If you need an emergency dentist in Hocking, or you've just searched "emergency dentist Wanneroo" with a sore face, here's the short version first. If you have trouble breathing, talking or swallowing, call 000. For anything else, call us on (08) 9306 2755 and we'll tell you what to do next. The rest of this page explains why.
What is considered a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is anything that needs a dentist soon to save a tooth, stop bleeding or ease severe pain. Call an emergency dentist promptly for:
an adult tooth that has been knocked out
a broken or cracked tooth that hurts or has a sharp edge
toothache that keeps you awake or doesn't ease with pain relief from the chemist
swelling in your gum or jaw
a crown or filling that has come out and the tooth now hurts
a cut to the lip, tongue or gum from a fall or sport
Some problems are usually less urgent: a lost filling with no pain, a small chip that isn't sharp, or mild sensitivity to cold. Call us anyway and we'll fit you in at a sensible time.
First aid before your emergency dental appointment
This is the first aid advice from healthdirect's dental injury guide, in short:
Knocked-out adult tooth: pick it up by the white crown, never the root. If it's dirty, rinse it quickly in warm water without scrubbing or soaking. Try to put it back in the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth. If you can't, keep it in a little milk or saliva. Aim to reach a dentist or hospital within 30 minutes.
Knocked-out baby tooth: don't put it back. Rinse your child's mouth with salt water and see a dentist.
Broken tooth: keep any broken piece in milk or sterile saline and bring it with you.
Bleeding: press firmly with a clean cloth or gauze.
Swelling: hold an ice pack wrapped in a cloth against your cheek.
For pain, follow the directions on the pack or ask your pharmacist. healthdirect notes that high doses of aspirin can increase bleeding after an injury. There's more detail in our step-by-step dental emergency guide and our post on what to do with a knocked-out tooth.
At what point do you go to the hospital for tooth pain?
healthdirect says to call 000 or go straight to an emergency department if:
you're having trouble breathing
you're having trouble talking or swallowing
a lot of blood is going down your throat
your mouth or tongue is very swollen
healthdirect also advises urgent medical care for heavy bleeding in the mouth. Swelling that spreads towards your eye or throat is a hospital matter too.
A fever over 38°C, pus, a bad taste or swollen glands in your neck can be signs of infection. Contact a dentist or doctor promptly. If it's the middle of the night, the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 has nurses available 24 hours a day.
Emergency dentist in Hocking: what happens when you call
When you ring, we'll ask what happened, when it started, how bad the pain is and whether there's swelling. Then we'll find the earliest time we can and tell you what to do until you get here.
At the appointment we take a digital X-ray if it's needed and show you the tooth on the screen beside the chair. Our first aim is to ease the pain and protect the tooth. Then we explain the options for fixing it properly, with item numbers, so you can decide what happens next. Our emergency dentistry page has more on what we treat.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a patient already to see an emergency dentist?
No. Call us whether or not you've been here before. We'll ask a few questions and tell you the next step.
Can a dentist save a badly broken tooth?
Often a broken tooth can be rebuilt with a filling or a crown. If the break goes too deep, removing the tooth may be the better option. A dentist needs to examine it and take an X-ray before anyone can say which.
Should I go to the emergency department for a toothache?
Go to hospital for the warning signs listed above. For toothache without those signs, a dentist is the right place, because the tooth itself still needs dental treatment.
What if it happens when we're closed?
Follow the first aid steps. For any of the warning signs above, call 000 or go to an emergency department, and for a knocked-out adult tooth go to hospital rather than waiting. Otherwise, call the healthdirect helpline if you're unsure, and call us as soon as we open. Current opening times are on our contact page.
If you need an emergency dentist in Hocking, Wanneroo or nearby, call Hocking Dental Care on (08) 9306 2755. For a problem that isn't urgent, you can book an appointment online.
