What it is
Emergency care focuses on relieving pain, controlling infection and stabilising an injury. Definitive treatment is often planned for a later appointment once the immediate problem is settled.
Who it may suit
- Severe or persistent toothache
- Facial or gum swelling
- A tooth knocked out or displaced by an injury
- A broken tooth or lost restoration causing pain
Signs you may need it
- Pain that disturbs sleep or is not controlled by usual painkillers
- Swelling of the face, jaw or under the eye
- Bleeding after an injury or extraction that does not settle
- A tooth pushed out of position
How the treatment works
- 1
Contact the clinic
Call or message so the situation can be assessed and an appointment arranged.
- 2
Assessment
Examination and X-rays as needed to identify the source.
- 3
Immediate management
Pain relief, drainage of infection, temporary restoration or stabilisation of an injured tooth.
- 4
Definitive plan
Follow-up treatment is scheduled once the acute problem has settled.
Visits and recovery
An emergency visit is usually short and focused. Follow-up appointments are almost always needed to complete treatment.
Benefits
- Pain and infection are addressed promptly
- Injured teeth are more likely to be manageable when seen quickly
Limitations
- Emergency appointments deal with the immediate problem, not the full treatment plan
- Availability depends on clinic hours; severe facial swelling with difficulty breathing or swallowing is a medical emergency and needs hospital care
Risks to be aware of
Every dental procedure carries some risk. Your dentist will discuss these with you in person, based on your own examination and X-rays.
- Delay allows infection to spread and treatment options to narrow
Aftercare
- Take prescribed medication exactly as directed and complete the course
- Keep the area clean as instructed
- Attend the follow-up appointment even if the pain has gone
When to contact the clinic
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling closing the eye — seek urgent medical care immediately
- Fever with facial swelling
- A knocked-out adult tooth — contact a dentist without delay
