Emergency appointments
Same-day time is held every morning for toothache, swelling, knocked-out or broken teeth.
Illustrative photographWhat it involves
Emergency appointments deal with dental problems that need attention the same day: significant pain, a knocked-out or broken tooth, a lost filling or crown that is uncomfortable, a dental abscess, or an injury to the teeth or mouth. The appointment starts with an assessment of what has happened and how much pain or risk is involved, then treatment or stabilisation appropriate to the problem.
Same-day time is held every morning specifically for this. It is same-day time held, not a guaranteed appointment at a particular hour — call as early as you can and describe what has happened so we can judge priority and give you realistic timing.
When it’s recommended
Call us for dental pain that is severe, getting worse, or keeping you awake; a tooth that has been knocked out, chipped or cracked; a lost filling or crown that is sharp or uncomfortable; swelling in the gum or face; or a mouth injury from a fall, sport or accident.
Please call 000 for facial swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, or trauma with other injuries. Those situations need emergency medical care, not a dental appointment, and every minute matters.
What to expect on the day
When you call, we will ask what has happened, how long it has been going on, and whether you have any other symptoms, then hold a time and tell you what to expect. Appointments are generally around 30 minutes, though this can extend if further treatment is needed once we can see the problem.
If a tooth has been knocked out, keep it moist — in milk or held gently in your mouth beside your cheek if you can safely do so — and get to us or to a dental emergency service as quickly as possible; the chance of saving a knocked-out tooth reduces with time.
Aftercare
Aftercare depends entirely on what the emergency was and what was done — we will give you specific instructions before you leave, including any pain relief guidance and warning signs to watch for. Keep the follow-up appointment if one is recommended, even if the discomfort has settled, since emergency treatment sometimes stabilises a problem rather than fully resolving it.
Fees
An emergency examination is quoted from our sample fee schedule below. Any further treatment on the day, such as a filling or extraction, is quoted separately once we can see what is needed. See our sample fees for common treatments.
Same-day assessment of pain, swelling or a broken tooth
Sample fees for demonstration only. A real clinic would publish its own schedule and confirm the fee before treatment.
Questions people ask
- Can I be seen the same day for a dental emergency?
- Same-day time is held every morning for this. Call as early as you can; we assess by phone and hold a time based on what you describe.
- What should I do with a knocked-out tooth before I get to you?
- Handle it by the crown, not the root, keep it moist in milk or in your mouth beside your cheek if safe to do so, and get to a dentist as quickly as possible.
- What if it happens outside your opening hours?
- Please call 000 for facial swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, or trauma with other injuries. For dental pain or a problem that can wait until we open, call first thing and we will fit you in.
- Will I need follow-up treatment after an emergency visit?
- Often, yes. Emergency treatment is sometimes aimed at getting you out of pain and stabilising the tooth, with a longer-term repair planned once things have settled.