Emergency treatment
We know that sometimes the unexpected happens, so we always reserve appointments for emergency cases. If you find yourself in a dental emergency, contact our team as soon as possible and we will do our best to accommodate you.
In the meantime, here’s what you can do:
- Take regular pain relief – you should be able to get this from your pharmacist
- Rinse your mouth out with salty water regularly
- Place a cold compress on your face
If it’s outside of our opening hours and you notice any of the symptoms below, please see your local doctor or go to hospital:
- Large swelling, extending onto the outside of your face
- Swelling causing closure of your eye
- High temperature
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Reduced mouth opening due to swelling
Knocked out a tooth? Here’s what to do:
- Do not handle the exposed root of the tooth, as this will have ligament fibres attached to it. It is important not to damage the ligament fibres, so that the tooth can ultimately reattach.
- Gently rinse any debris from the tooth with cold running water. Do not scrub the root of the tooth.
- If possible, the best place to store the tooth until you see your dentist is back in the socket where it came from. The sooner the tooth is replanted the higher the chance of survival. Be careful to put the tooth in the correct way and not back-to-front. Do not replace baby teeth.
- The tooth can be stabilised by getting the patient to bite down on gauze or aluminium foil.
- Do not let the tooth dry out. Store it in a container of milk or saliva if you cannot put it back in the socket. Avoid storage in water. In a conscious adult patient, the tooth can be stored inside the mouth (between the teeth and the cheek) - this isn’t suitable for a young child as they may swallow the tooth
Australian Dental Association Fact Sheets