Emergency Dentist
What to do in a dental emergency
Emergency Dentist is available at My Dentist at Cannon Hill. During business hours, please call our practice on 07 3902 1023.
Appointments for dental emergencies are available daily.
Our opening hours are:
- Monday8:00am – 7:30pm
- Tuesday8:00am – 7:30pm
- Wednesday8:00am – 7:30pm
- Thursday8:00am – 7:30pm
- Friday8:00am – 5:00pm
- Saturday8:00am – 1:00pm
Dental Emergencies include the following:
- Toothache
- Chipped or broken tooth
- Trauma
- Swelling or abscess
To make an appointment you can call us on 07 3902 1023 or use our online booking page.
Please note not all times are available on our online booking page. Please call us on 07 3902 1023 for other times.
FAQ
1. I have a terrible toothache. What do I do?
• For a toothache, first rinse the mouth with warm water to remove debris.
• If swelling is present, place a cold compress to the outside of the cheek (do not use heat).
• Take paracetamol rather than aspirin, as aspirin thins the blood.
• Do not place aspirin on the gum or aching tooth. This causes soft tissue to burn.
• Always seek dental treatment as soon as possible.
2. I have knocked out an adult tooth. What do I do?
If you have knocked out a permanent adult tooth, it can be saved however immediate action is required.
1. Remain calm and find the tooth.
2. Handle the top of the tooth only (the crown). Never hold the tooth by its roots.
3. Do not scrape, rub or remove any tissue fragments from the tooth.
4. Make sure the tooth is clean. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it in milk or very briefly in water. Alternatively, the owner can gently suck the tooth although this is not recommended for young children or adults who are unconscious, in shock or not fully calm and cooperative.
5. Immediately replant the tooth in the socket and hold tooth in place.
6. If unable to replant the tooth, keep it moist by immersing it in milk (not water), sealing it in plastic wrap, or placing it in the owner’s mouth next to the cheek (if the owner is able).
7. Do not let the tooth dry out.
8. Seek immediate dental care (time is critical).
Immediately call our practice to book to see an emergency dentist. Time is of the essence. If we are close, visit your nearest emergency department immediately.
3. My child has knocked out a baby tooth. What do I do?
If a baby tooth is knocked out, do not attempt to replace it. Re-implanting a knocked out baby tooth could cause damage to the developing adult tooth. Seek prompt dental care so any trauma to the lips and gums and associated pain can be managed.
4. What do I do if I have chipped, fractured, cracked or broken my tooth?
If you have accidentally chipped or fractured your tooth, the most important thing to do is to seek our dental advice.
If a tooth chip or fracture is only minimal and there is no soft tissue trauma and no pain, do not panic. Call us within 24 hours to have the tooth assessed by our Dentist.
If you see any signs of the pink of the tooth, this indicates a nerve has been exposed. If this is the case, please call us immediately.
5. What do I do if I have accidentally bitten my lip or cheek?
This can sometimes occur during eating, after a fall or as a result of local anaesthetic. Treat your bitten lip or cheek with a warm, salt mouth rise. Seek our advice if area does not heal in a week.
6. I have an abscess in my mouth. What can I do?
If you have any swelling in the facial region, it is likely to be a dental abscess. It is important that you contact us as soon as possible.
Dental abscesses are pus-filled swellings caused by infection inside a tooth, infection of the gum (common with periodontitis) and/or trauma to the tooth. Abscesses are often painful, but not always. Dental abscesses can cause facial swelling and/or enlarged lymph glands. In rare cases, dental abscesses can cause more widespread infection and may be life threatening.
For dental abscesses:
• Control moderate pain with over-the-counter pain medication. Take this in the usual way and do not apply the medication to the abscess itself.
• Use cold compresses to help control swelling.
• A dental professional or doctor may prescribe antibiotics to reduce infection, however, antibiotics will not remove the source of infection. Before starting on antibiotics, it is important see a dentist to find the cause of the infection as sometimes antibiotics can mask the problem, making it harder to diagnose.
• Immediately call us to book an appointment. An abscess will not heal itself, and antibiotics will not fix the problem.
Abscesses can be life threatening. If you develop a fever, visit your nearest emergency department immediately if we are not open.
7. My lip, cheek or gum is bleeding. What do I do?
Trauma and bleeding to the lip, cheek or gums should be treated as follows:
1. Apply a clean bandage or folded handkerchief to the wound and apply firm pressure.
2. Sit down and maintain the pressure for at least ten minutes. Don’t lie down flat.
3. If the bleeding cannot be controlled, seek immediate medical attention.
4. Apply a cold compress to relieve swelling and pain.
5. Seek dental or medical advice.
6. Use warm, salty mouth rinse until the wound has healed to reduce the risk of infection
8. I am experiencing pain in my jaw. What do I do?
If you are having trouble eating or opening your mouth due to jaw pain, or experience jaw pain on waking, seek medical or dental care. It is important for a dental professional or doctor to diagnose the source of the jaw pain.
At your appointment, our Dentist will work to diagnose the source of your jaw pain. In the interim, you can apply a cold compress or take anti-inflammatory medication.
Emergency dentists are available at My Dentist at Cannon Hill. We provide emergency dental treatment to the people of Brisbane and the local area of Cannon Hill and the surrounding suburbs of Murarrie, Morningside, Carina, Carina Heights, Tingalpa, Hemmant, Balmoral, Hawthorne, Bulimba, Carindale, Seven Hills and Camp Hill for emergency dental treatment.
If you need an emergency dentist and have a dental emergency please contact us asap on 07 3902 1023.