Dental Emergencies
Same-day care when you need us most.
Dental emergencies are rarely convenient. We keep emergency appointments open every day so that when something happens — a broken tooth, severe pain, a knocked-out tooth on a Saturday morning — there's a real chance of being seen the same day.
What to do right now
First aid for common dental emergencies
Knocked-out adult tooth
Pick it up by the crown (not the root), rinse gently in milk or saliva, and if possible place it back in the socket. Otherwise store in milk and get to us immediately. Time is critical — ideally within an hour.
Broken tooth
Rinse with warm water, save any large fragments in milk, apply cold compress outside the cheek to reduce swelling. Call us as soon as possible.
Severe toothache
Rinse with warm salt water, take paracetamol or ibuprofen if safe for you, and call us first thing in the morning. Don't place aspirin directly on the gum — it burns tissue.
Facial swelling
This is always urgent. Call us immediately. If swelling is spreading across the face or neck, or if you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
What happens at an emergency appointment
Out of pain first, full fix next
Our first priority at an emergency visit is to get you out of pain and stabilise the tooth. That might mean a temporary filling, draining an abscess, starting a root canal, or splinting a loose tooth — whatever is needed to settle things quickly.
We'll then discuss the full fix. Sometimes that can be done at the same visit, sometimes it needs a follow-up appointment. Either way, you'll leave with a clear plan, a written quote, and a way forward.
How we do it at Austral
Your dental partners, in sickness and in health
Emergency patients aren't an interruption at Austral — they're the reason we do this job. If you call early in the day, we'll do our best to see you that day. And if the fix needs a specialist's touch, our visiting oral surgeon Dr Daniel Girgis is on-site for complex extractions and surgical emergencies, so you don't have to be sent across the city.
You don't need to be an existing patient. If you're in pain, just call.
FAQs
Questions people usually ask
Do I need to be an existing patient?
No. If you're in pain or have had an accident, call us. We see emergency patients regardless of whether they've been with us before.
What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe pain, facial swelling, a broken or knocked-out tooth, a lost filling or crown exposing a nerve, bleeding that won't stop, or any trauma to the mouth or jaw. If you're unsure, call us and describe what's going on — we'll tell you whether it's urgent.
What should I do if my child knocks a tooth out?
For a baby tooth: don't try to put it back in. Control any bleeding with gauze and call us. For an adult tooth: find it, handle it by the crown only, rinse gently with milk or saliva, and if possible pop it back into the socket and hold it there. If not, store it in milk and get to us immediately. Time is critical.
What if it's after hours?
If you're a current patient, call our main number and you'll hear our after-hours advice. For severe facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or trauma to the jaw, go to your nearest hospital emergency department immediately — this is a medical emergency, not a dental one.
What will it cost?
Our emergency exam (with any x-rays needed) is a fixed fee we'll tell you on the phone when you book. Any treatment beyond that is quoted before we start — no surprises.
Call us now.
The sooner we see you, the more options we'll have — and the more comfortable the fix will be.
Call 02 9606 0553