Call first thing
Dental pain does not improve by waiting, so we hold appointments open every morning for people who need to be seen today. Call as soon as we open, tell the front desk what is happening, and we will give you a time, usually within a couple of hours. If you are already a patient, our voicemail outside opening hours gives the on-call dentist’s number.
What we treat the same day
Toothache. Pain that wakes you at night, throbs, or gets worse with heat usually means the nerve of the tooth is inflamed or infected. We find the tooth, take an X-ray, and get you out of pain that day, whether by starting root canal treatment, placing a dressing, or removing the tooth if it cannot be saved.
A broken or chipped tooth. A tooth that has cracked, or a corner that has broken off, can often be repaired with a bonded filling the same visit. A larger break is stabilised with a temporary crown and the permanent one made over the following week.
A lost filling or crown. Bring the crown if you have it. If it is intact, we can usually clean and recement it. If not, we protect the tooth with a temporary and plan a replacement.
Swelling or an abscess. A swelling in the gum or the face means an infection that needs draining and treating. We do that in the clinic and prescribe antibiotics where they are needed. Swelling that spreads towards the eye or under the jaw, or that makes swallowing or breathing difficult, is a medical emergency and belongs in the emergency room, not with us.
A knocked-out tooth. Time matters. Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root, rinse it gently in milk or saliva, and if you can, put it back in the socket and bite gently on a cloth. If you cannot, keep it in milk and come straight in. A tooth replaced within an hour has a good chance of being saved.
Bleeding that will not stop. After an extraction elsewhere or an injury to the mouth, firm pressure with a damp gauze for twenty minutes stops most bleeding. If it does not, call us.
What the visit involves
An emergency visit is focused on the problem you came in with. We examine the area, take an X-ray of the tooth, explain what is going on and give you the choices with prices. Then we treat whatever will get you comfortable that day. Anything that needs a longer appointment, such as finishing a root canal or fitting a permanent crown, is booked for a following visit. You will not leave in pain, and you will not be signed up for anything you did not agree to.
While you wait to be seen
Take over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the packet; ibuprofen and paracetamol together work better than either alone for tooth pain, if you are able to take both. Avoid heat on the face, which makes swelling worse. Keep the area clean with warm salt water rinses. Do not put aspirin on the gum, which burns it.
Children
Children’s dental injuries are common, especially from bikes, trampolines and playgrounds. Baby teeth that are knocked out are not put back, but they still need checking, because the adult tooth developing underneath can be affected. Adult teeth in children are treated the same way as adults, and quickly.
Cost
The emergency exam and X-ray is a fixed fee we tell you on the phone, and any treatment is quoted before we start. If you have dental insurance, emergency exams are usually covered, and we file the claim for you. We would rather you come in and hear the options than wait because you were worried about the bill.
