What to do in a dental emergency?
Dental emergencies can happen any time of day or night. Sudden tooth pain, a lost filling during a meal or a broken tooth while playing sports are common dental emergencies.
If you’re in the middle of a dental emergency, you need to contact your dentist as soon as possible.
If you’re unsure if what’s happening counts as an emergency, you should still call your dentist — it’s best to be on the safe side.
What is a dental emergency?
Dental emergencies can include toothaches, dental trauma (knocked-out or fractured teeth), facial swelling or lost fillings.
If you experience a dental emergency, contact your local dentist as soon as possible to improve your chance of saving the affected tooth or teeth, and to prevent infections from spreading and becoming potentially serious.
Types of dental emergencies and what to do
Sever Toothaches
Severe tooth pain is one of the most common dental emergencies. If you have a bad toothache, you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to manage the pain before you get to a dentist. Intense pain could be a sign of a dental abscess developing, which can become quite serious if not treated quickly.
Broken/Chipped Tooth
If you've had an accident or bitten down on something hard like a lolly and broken a tooth, you’ll need emergency dental care. First, save any pieces if possible, and then rinse your mouth with warm water and stop any bleeding with gauze or tissues. If you’re in pain, use a cold compress on the outside of your mouth to reduce swelling.
Lost Fillings
Dental fillings don't always last forever and may unexpectedly fall out while you’re chewing. A lost filling can leave sharp edges and lead to cuts on the tongue and cheeks. If there is no pain, use a temporary filling material from the pharmacy or dental orthodontic wax to smooth the edge over until you can visit your local dentist. But, if you’re in pain, go to the dentist immediately.
Soft Tissue Injures
This includes cuts, tears and punctures to the tongue, cheeks or lips. Try to clean the wound straight away and visit your local dentist or emergency department as soon as possible. If bleeding persists, place pressure on the wound using gauze.
Your dentist will be the best person to evaluate your emergency situation and provide the best possible treatment to make sure you are looked after.
Facial Swelling
If you are experiencing swelling around your jawline or cheeks, you should seek medical advice immediately. You could have a tooth or gum infection which can spread if it’s not treated. Some symptoms to look out for are tooth pain, pus, bad taste in the mouth, fever and sensitivity to hot foods and drinks. Either way, contact your local dentist or visit the emergency department to get to the root of the swelling as soon as possible.
Bleeding Gums
While minor gum bleeding during brushing or flossing isn’t usually an emergency, sudden or excessive bleeding is. If your gums won't stop bleeding after applying pressure for more than 15 minutes, contact your dentist immediately. This could point to a gum infection or other health issues.
Maintaining dental pain while you wait
Dental emergencies can be super painful, but sometimes you might need to wait a few hours before getting in to see your dentist. During this waiting period, there are things you can do to manage your discomfort:
- Apply a cold compress: A cold compress on the outside of your cheek can reduce swelling and numb the area.
- Take pain medication: Pain relief such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can help — just make sure to use them according to package instructions.
- Salt water rinse: Swishing with a 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water can reduce inflammation and kill bacteria.
Avoid certain foods and drinks: Hot, cold, sweet or acidic foods and drinks might trigger pain. - Use benzocaine: An over-the-counter dental gel like Oral-eze, which contains benzocaine, can temporarily numb the area.
Keep your head elevated: Sitting upright reduces mouth pressure and throbbing.
Remember these are temporary measures only. Seeing a dentist quickly should still be your first priority.
Emergency Dental Care FAQs
One of the most common dental injuries is a lost tooth. If a tooth is knocked out it's important to act quickly. Rinse the tooth with milk to wash off any dirt. To increase its survival time, either immerse the tooth in milk or place it back in your mouth.
If your child has lost a baby tooth, do not place it back in the socket. Doing so can damage the new permanent tooth underneath.
Regardless of how damaged the tooth is, you should seek medical advice immediately.
Reposition the tooth using very light finger pressure, and hold it in place with a moist tissue or gauze. Try to find any broken or chipped-away pieces and rinse them with milk to remove any dirt. Then, contact your dentist immediately. Depending on how damaged the tooth is, your dentist may be able to repair it.
When you suffer from a dental injury from an accident, sports injury or as a result of dental treatment you may be eligible for ACC assistance for treatment costs. You will need to visit an ACC accredited dentist after your injury and they’ll make a claim on your behalf. ACC will send you a letter to confirm if you’re injury is covered.
Emergency dental visits in Australia vary in price based on what treatment you need and where you go. Initial consultations tend to be at the lower end, while procedures like root canals or repairs will increase the cost. Prices can also depend on where you live and whether you visit during normal hours or after hours.
At Lumino, we have payment options like Afterpay, so you can get your teeth fixed and pay at a more convenient time.
We think of an emergency as anything that’s causing you significant pain or stopping you from eating or sleeping. If you can’t wait more than 24 hours for relief, that’s also considered an emergency.
Some common emergency situations are tooth infections, mouth trauma and facial swelling. If you're not sure how urgent your case is, call your dentist and describe your symptoms.