Chipped, knocked out or aching: what counts as a dental emergency
What to do in the first thirty minutes, what can safely wait until Monday, and the one symptom that means do not wait at all.
Ring us first
Before anything else. We hold appointments open each day for emergencies, and there is often advice we can give on the phone that makes the next hour much more bearable. Our number is (03) 9837 2890.
A knocked out adult tooth
This is the one where minutes genuinely matter. The best outcomes come within about thirty minutes.
- Pick the tooth up by the crown, the chewing part. Never touch the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saliva. Never scrub it and never use water.
- If you can, put it straight back into the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth.
- If you cannot, keep it in a cup of milk. Milk, not water.
- Come to us immediately.
A knocked out baby tooth is different. Do not put it back, because doing so can damage the adult tooth forming above it. Still ring us.
Facial swelling is the one not to wait on
Swelling in the face or jaw means an infection that is spreading beyond the tooth. It will not settle on its own. If you also have difficulty breathing or swallowing, or the swelling is closing your eye, go to a hospital emergency department rather than waiting for a dental appointment.
Severe toothache
Pain that keeps you awake, throbs, or does not respond to over the counter pain relief usually means the nerve is involved. That needs treatment, not time. Over the counter pain relief taken as directed will help you cope in the meantime. Never hold aspirin against the gum, it burns the tissue.
What can usually wait a day or two
- A small chip with no pain and no sharp edge
- A lost filling that is not sensitive
- A crown that has come off cleanly, keep it and bring it in
- Mild sensitivity to cold that settles quickly
- Food caught under the gum, if flossing frees it and the ache stops
Waiting is not the same as ignoring. Book it in, just do not spend the weekend worrying.
We are open Saturdays
Which covers a good share of weekend emergencies. Ring as early in the day as you can, because morning calls give us the most room to fit you in.
