What's happened? Pick one for the steps.
- Rinse with warm salt water.
- Take the pain relief you'd normally use. Don't put aspirin on the gum.
- No heat on the face.
- Call us for the next emergency slot.
- Hold the tooth by the crown, not the root.
- Rinse briefly in milk if dirty. Don't scrub.
- Put it back in the socket if you can and bite on a clean cloth.
- Can't? Keep it in milk or inside your cheek and call us now.
Baby teeth are not put back in. Bring your child in to be checked.
- Rinse your mouth and keep any pieces.
- Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or orthodontic wax.
- Avoid chewing on that side.
- Call us. Large breaks need seeing quickly to protect the nerve.
- Cold compress on the outside of the face.
- Call us now for a same-day appointment.
- If swelling affects breathing or swallowing, or spreads to the eye or neck, go to Bundaberg Hospital or call 000.
- Keep the crown if you have it.
- Keep the tooth clean and avoid very hot, cold or sweet food on it.
- Chemist temporary filling material can cover it short term.
- Call us. We'll recement or replace it.
Same-day emergency dental appointments in Bundaberg
Acclaim Dental holds emergency appointments every day we're open, Monday to Thursday. If you're in pain, have broken a tooth or have swelling, call (07) 4152 2522 as soon as you can. Our front desk will get you in with a dentist the same day wherever we can.
You don't need to be an existing patient. We see new patients, visitors to the region and anyone who can't get in to see their usual dentist.
Difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling that's spreading to your eye or neck, or bleeding that won't stop after 20 minutes of firm pressure? Go to the Bundaberg Hospital emergency department or call 000.
What we treat as an emergency
- Toothache that's severe, keeps you awake, or hasn't settled with over-the-counter pain relief.
- Knocked-out tooth (avulsion). Time matters. See the first-aid steps below and call us straight away.
- Broken, cracked or chipped teeth, especially where there's pain, sensitivity or a sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek.
- Lost fillings or crowns.
- Dental abscess or facial swelling. An abscess is an infection and won't clear on its own.
- Wisdom tooth pain and infected gums around a wisdom tooth.
- Broken dentures or a denture that's suddenly cutting into your gum.
- Injuries to the lips, gums or tongue from a fall or sporting knock.
- Problems after treatment, such as bleeding or pain after an extraction.
What to do right now
Knocked-out adult tooth
- Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part). Don't touch the root.
- If it's dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline. Don't scrub it and don't let it dry out.
- If you can, put it straight back into the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it.
- If you can't, keep it in milk or tucked inside your cheek, and call us. The best chance of saving the tooth is within 30 to 60 minutes.
Baby teeth should not be put back in. Keep the tooth and bring your child in to be checked.
Toothache
Rinse with warm salt water, take pain relief you'd normally use (avoid putting aspirin on the gum), and keep the area clean. Don't apply heat to the face. Call us for the next available emergency appointment.
Broken tooth or lost filling
Rinse your mouth, keep any pieces, and cover a sharp edge with sugar-free chewing gum or orthodontic wax from the chemist if it's cutting you. Avoid chewing on that side.
Swelling
A cold compress on the outside of the face helps. Swelling that's getting worse, or is affecting your eye, throat or ability to swallow, is a hospital emergency.
What happens at your emergency appointment
We find the cause
Your dentist examines the area and takes any X-rays needed. Our 3D imaging means we can see fractures and infection that don't show on a standard X-ray.
We get you out of pain
The first goal is relief. That may mean a temporary filling, smoothing a sharp edge, draining an abscess, starting antibiotics or beginning root canal treatment.
You get a clear plan and a written estimate
We explain the options, the costs and what each involves before anything further is done. Some problems are fully sorted in the one visit. Others need a follow-up for a crown or other permanent repair.
Emergency dental costs and health funds
You'll be told the cost of the emergency examination when you book, and given a written estimate before any further treatment. We're a preferred provider for Bupa, MBP (Medibank), CBHS, HCF, RTH (RT Health), TUH, NM Health (Nurses & Midwives Health), and Westfund. Your rebate depends on your fund and level of cover. Payment options include Denticare, Fund My Dental and ZIP Pay. See payment options.
Eligible children can have emergency treatment bulk billed under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.
Why Bundaberg trusts Acclaim Dental in an emergency
- Emergency appointments available every day we're open
- Established in Bundaberg in 2008, QIP-accredited practice
- 3D imaging on site, so the cause is found on the first visit
- Gentle, calm approach for nervous patients and children
- Central location at 4/31 Maryborough Street, with parking available on Maryborough Street
Common emergencies and how we treat them
| What's happened | What we'll usually do |
|---|---|
| Severe toothache | Find the cause with an exam and X-ray. Relief may be a filling, a sedative dressing, draining an abscess, starting root canal treatment or, if the tooth can't be saved, an extraction. |
| Knocked-out adult tooth | Reposition and splint the tooth if it's viable. Follow-up over the next weeks to check the nerve. Root canal treatment is often needed later. |
| Chipped or broken tooth | Smooth the edge, bond composite to rebuild it, or plan a crown if the break is large. Check the nerve isn't exposed. |
| Lost filling or crown | Replace the filling or recement the crown if it's intact. Bring the crown with you if you have it. |
| Abscess or swelling | Drain the infection, treat the tooth or gum causing it, and prescribe antibiotics where indicated. |
| Wisdom tooth pain | Clean the area, treat the gum infection, and plan removal if the tooth is impacted or recurring. |
| Broken denture | Repair on site where possible, or arrange a quick lab repair. |
Emergency care for children
Kids knock teeth in playgrounds, on bikes and on the footy field. Children are seen for emergencies the same day where possible, and eligible children are bulk billed under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.
A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back in. Keep it and bring your child in so we can check the adult tooth underneath and the surrounding teeth. A knocked-out adult tooth in a child is treated the same way as in an adult: keep it moist, get here fast.
A custom mouthguard is the best prevention. We make them from a quick digital scan.
Visiting Bundaberg?
You don't need to be a regular patient. If you're in the region on holiday, working away or passing through and something goes wrong with your teeth, call us. We'll treat the problem, give you a written record of what was done, and hand you back to your usual dentist for any follow-up.
Preventing the next emergency
Most dental emergencies have a warning sign that was ignored: a twinge on cold drinks, a filling that felt rough, a tooth that had been aching on and off. A six-monthly check-up catches most of these before they become a Friday night problem. If you've had one emergency, book the check-up while you're here.