DENTAL CARE
Emergency Dentist Canning Vale
Emergency dental appointments
When to Call Us
Contact Dentists @ Canning Vale as soon as possible if you or someone in your care is experiencing any of the following:
- Severe, persistent or worsening toothache
- Facial, jaw or gum swelling
- A knocked-out permanent (adult) tooth
- A broken, cracked or chipped tooth
- Dental trauma from sport, a fall or an accident
- A lost filling, crown or dental restoration
- Bleeding following dental injury or trauma
- Pain, swelling or infection associated with wisdom teeth
- Signs of dental infection, including swelling, pus or fever
- Difficulty eating, biting or opening your mouth due to dental pain
- A dental concern in a child requiring urgent assessment
If you are unsure whether your concern needs urgent attention, call us and our team will help you determine the next appropriate step.
Common Dental Emergencies and What to Do
If you are dealing with one of the situations below, here is what to do while you arrange to be seen.
Severe Toothache
Tooth pain may be caused by decay, infection, a cracked tooth, gum problems, impacted wisdom teeth or trauma. Persistent or severe pain should be assessed promptly, particularly if accompanied by swelling or fever.
What to do first: Rinse with warm water and gently floss around the area to remove trapped food. Avoid placing aspirin directly on the tooth or gum as this may irritate the tissue. Take appropriate over-the-counter pain relief and call us.
Knocked-Out Adult Tooth
A knocked-out permanent tooth requires urgent dental attention. Time matters, contact us immediately.
What to do first: Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root. If dirty, rinse briefly with milk or saline, do not scrub. Place it back into the socket if you can do so safely. If not, store the tooth in milk or saliva and call us right away.
Broken, Chipped or Cracked Tooth
A broken or cracked tooth can expose sensitive tooth structure and may worsen if left untreated. Treatment depends on the extent of the damage and may involve bonding, a filling, a crown or root canal treatment.
What to do first: Rinse your mouth with warm water. Keep any broken pieces if available. Avoid chewing on the affected side until you have been assessed.
Dental Abscess or Infection
A dental abscess may cause pain, swelling, a bad taste, fever or tenderness around the affected tooth or gum. Dental infections require prompt attention and can worsen without appropriate care.
What to do first: Do not attempt to drain the abscess yourself. Rinse with warm salted water. Contact us immediately. If swelling is increasing rapidly or affecting your breathing or swallowing, go to hospital emergency.
Lost Filling or Crown
A lost filling or crown leaves the underlying tooth sensitive and vulnerable to further damage. The tooth may be temporarily sensitive to temperature, air or pressure.
What to do first: Keep the crown or filling if you have it. Avoid chewing on the affected tooth. Dental wax or sugarless gum can temporarily cover a sharp edge. Call us to arrange an appointment.
Facial or Gum Swelling
Swelling around the gums, jaw or face may indicate dental infection or inflammation. Swelling that is increasing, affects the eye, or involves the throat requires emergency medical care.
What to do first: Apply a cold compress to the outside of the face for short intervals. Contact us promptly. If swelling affects your breathing or swallowing, call 000 immediately.
Wisdom Tooth Pain
Wisdom teeth can cause significant pain when impacted, partially erupted, infected or difficult to clean. Swelling and difficulty opening the mouth are common accompanying symptoms.
What to do first: Rinse with warm salted water around the area. Over-the-counter pain relief may help manage discomfort while awaiting assessment. Contact us to arrange an appointment.
Dental Emergencies in Children
Dental trauma in children should be assessed promptly, especially if a tooth has been knocked, loosened, broken or displaced. Management of a knocked-out baby tooth is different to that of an adult tooth, do not attempt to re-insert a knocked-out baby tooth.
What to do first: Keep the child calm, control any bleeding with gentle pressure, and call us for guidance specific to your child's age and situation.
What to Expect When You Call
Call 08 9256 2588 and describe your symptoms. Our team will advise on urgency, provide initial guidance, and confirm the next available appointment time.
Come in for assessment - our dentist will examine the affected area and take X-rays where required to understand the cause and extent of the problem.
Treatment options are explained - our dentist will discuss findings, suitable treatment options and associated costs before anything proceeds. You are in control of what happens next.
Same-visit treatment where possible - depending on the nature of the emergency and the appointment duration, initial treatment may begin at the same visit. More complex treatment may be scheduled as a follow-up.
Emergency Dental Treatments Available
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your dental concern. Following an examination, our dentists will explain their findings and discuss suitable options. Emergency treatment may include:
- Emergency dental examination and clinical assessment
- Digital X-rays where required for diagnosis
- Temporary restorations to protect the affected tooth
- Dental fillings
- Crown and restoration repair
- Infection management and prescription where clinically appropriate
- Root canal treatment
- Tooth extraction where clinically required
- Wisdom tooth assessment and management
- Dental trauma management
- Referral to a specialist or hospital where appropriate
Reducing the Risk of Dental Emergencies
Not all dental emergencies can be prevented. However, regular dental care and a few practical steps may reduce your risk of unexpected problems:
- Attend regular dental check-ups so problems are identified and treated early
- Wear a custom-fitted mouthguard during contact sport
- Avoid chewing on ice, pens, fingernails or hard objects that can crack teeth
- Address cracked, decayed or weakened teeth before they worsen
- Maintain good oral hygiene at home
- Seek dental advice when symptoms first appear rather than waiting
- Monitor wisdom teeth if they are causing recurrent discomfort
Health Funds and Payment
Dentists @ Canning Vale is a preferred provider for several major health funds including BUPA Members First Platinum, Medibank Members' Choice Advantage, HCF More For Teeth, HBF Member Plus, NIB First Choice, CBHS Choice Network and Smile.com.au. We also accept HIF, OneMediFund and other private health funds.
HICAPS on-the-spot claiming means your rebate is processed at the time of your appointment. Health fund rebates may apply depending on your level of extras cover, please contact your fund to confirm your entitlements. We also see eligible patients under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) and DVA arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a toothache a dental emergency?
A toothache may require urgent attention if the pain is severe, persistent, worsening, or accompanied by swelling, fever or difficulty biting. If in doubt, call our clinic and describe your symptoms, our team will advise on the next appropriate step.
What should I do if I knock out a tooth?
For a knocked-out adult tooth: hold it by the crown (not the root), rinse briefly with milk or saline if dirty, and place it back into the socket if you can do so safely. If not, store the tooth in milk or saliva. Call us immediately. For a knocked-out baby tooth in a child, do not attempt to re-insert it, call us for specific guidance.
Can I wait until my next routine appointment?
Some dental concerns can worsen quickly without treatment. If you have significant pain, swelling, trauma, signs of infection, a broken tooth or a lost restoration, we recommend calling our team for advice rather than waiting.
Will I be seen on the same day?
We do our best to accommodate emergency appointments on the same or next day where availability allows. The first appointment may focus on assessment, pain management and temporary treatment, with further care scheduled as needed.
Do you see new patients for emergency appointments?
Please contact our clinic and our team will advise on appointment availability and the most appropriate next step for your situation.
What if my dental emergency happens outside clinic hours?
For life-threatening symptoms, severe swelling affecting breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, serious head or facial trauma, call 000 or go to hospital emergency. For non-life-threatening concerns outside clinic hours, contact us at the next opportunity to arrange the earliest available appointment.
Do you treat children with dental emergencies?
Yes. We provide emergency dental care for children of all ages. Management will depend on whether the tooth involved is a baby or adult tooth, the child's age and the nature of the concern. Call us and we will guide you on the most appropriate next step.
If you are in pain or have an urgent dental concern, call us now. Our team will advise on availability, provide initial guidance and get you seen as quickly as possible.
Call 08 9256 2588 Book OnlineImportant Information
This page provides general information only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice. Treatment suitability, results and costs vary between patients.
A consultation with one of our dentists is required to assess whether this treatment is appropriate for you. Book a consultation or call 08 9256 2588.
References & Further Reading
This page is based on current clinical literature and guidelines from recognised Australian and international dental and health authorities.
- Australian Dental Association. ada.org.au
- Dental Board of Australia (AHPRA). dentalboard.gov.au
- Australian Society of Implant Dentistry (ASID). asid.com.au
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) - Medical Devices. tga.gov.au
- Australian Society of Endodontology. ase.org.au
- Australian Periodontology - ADA Oral Health Topics. ada.org.au/Dental-Professionals/Publications/Oral-Health-Topics
Content reviewed by Dr Desmond Ng, BDSc (Hons) University of Queensland | Principal Dentist, Dentists at Canning Vale. Last reviewed July 2026.