!
Right Now
Hospital emergency or dentist — decide in 60 seconds
Go to Hospital Emergency Now — do not wait
Call 000 or go to ED immediately if you have any of these:
- Facial swelling spreading toward your eye, jaw, or neck
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Fever (38.5°C+) combined with dental pain or swelling
- Swelling that is pushing your tongue upward or forward
- You feel unwell, confused, or generally deteriorating
Call an emergency dentist today — same day: Severe toothache uncontrolled by pain relief · Visible or suspected abscess (swelling, throbbing, pus taste) · Knocked-out adult tooth · Broken tooth with exposed nerve or severe pain · Lost crown/filling causing significant pain · Soft tissue injury with uncontrolled bleeding
Can wait for next available appointment: Mild sensitivity to hot/cold · Chipped tooth with no pain · Lost filling with no pain · Loose crown with no pain · Mild aching that responds to paracetamol
P
Identify
What is likely happening — and what treatment it needs
| Symptoms | Likely cause | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| Throbbing, severe pain — worse lying down. Possibly swelling. Taste of pus. | Dental abscess | Emergency dentist |
| Facial swelling spreading. Fever. Difficulty swallowing. | Spreading infection (cellulitis/Ludwig's angina) | Hospital ED now |
| Adult tooth knocked clean out | Avulsion — time-critical | Emergency dentist — within 30 min |
| Sharp pain on biting, constant ache, sensitivity | Cracked tooth or deep decay | Emergency dentist today |
| Throbbing pain that was severe, now gone suddenly | Nerve may have died — abscess possible | Dentist — same/next day |
| Swelling on gum, like a pimple. Mild pain. | Dental fistula (chronic abscess draining) | Dentist — this week |
| Severe pain in back of jaw, especially bottom. Partial gum flap visible. | Pericoronitis (wisdom tooth infection) | Emergency dentist today |
| Sensitivity to cold, resolves within 30 seconds | Early decay or exposed dentine | Next available |
About dental abscesses: A dental abscess is a bacterial infection. It does not resolve on its own. Antibiotics alone are not a cure — they reduce infection but the source (infected nerve or periodontal pocket) must be treated by a dentist. If a GP or ED gives you antibiotics for dental pain, you still need to see a dentist within days to address the cause.
A
Access
Finding emergency dental care in Australia
Private emergency dentists are your fastest route for non-life-threatening emergencies. Search "emergency dentist [your suburb]" — most major cities have after-hours clinics. Expect to pay at the time of service. Bring your health fund card.
Public dental emergency clinics exist in most states and are free or low-cost for eligible concession card holders and Commonwealth Health Care Card holders. Wait times vary — some states offer same-day emergency slots; others may be several hours.
| State | Public dental emergency access | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | NSW Health dental clinics — call for same-day emergency | 1800 679 336 |
| VIC | Dental Health Services Victoria | 1300 360 054 |
| QLD | Queensland Health community health centres | 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) |
| SA | SA Dental Service emergency clinics | (08) 8222 8222 |
| WA | Dental Health Services WA | (08) 9313 0555 |
| TAS | Community Dental Service | 1800 818 711 |
| ACT | Canberra Health Services dental | (02) 5124 8080 |
| NT | NT Health dental clinics | 1800 450 880 |
Knocked-out tooth — act now: Reimplantation is most successful within 30 minutes. Do not put the tooth in water. Store it in milk, saline, or hold it between your cheek and gum. Go directly to an emergency dentist or hospital ED if a dentist is unavailable. Call ahead so they are ready when you arrive.
- 1Pick up by the crown onlyDo not touch the root — it carries the ligament cells needed for reimplantation.
- 2Rinse if dirty — do not scrubGently rinse with milk or saline. Do not use water, do not scrub, do not dry.
- 3Reinsert if you canGently push the tooth back into the socket and bite down on a clean cloth to hold it. If not possible, store in milk.
- 4Get to a dentist in under 30 minutesCall ahead. Every minute reduces reimplantation success.
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Costs
What emergency dental treatment costs in Australia
| Treatment | Typical AU cost (private) | Health fund cover? |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency consultation + X-ray | $150–$350 | Partially — check your General Dental limit |
| Emergency extraction (simple) | $250–$500 | Partially under General Dental |
| Emergency extraction (surgical/wisdom tooth) | $400–$900 | Partially — may require specialist referral |
| Root canal treatment (front tooth) | $1,200–$1,800 | Partially under Major Dental — check annual limit |
| Root canal treatment (back molar) | $1,800–$2,500 | Partially under Major Dental |
| Drain abscess (incision and drainage) | $200–$400 | Partially |
| Re-cement crown | $100–$250 | Partially |
| After-hours surcharge | $50–$150 on top of treatment | Generally not covered |
Health fund tip: Emergency dental treatment can eat through your annual General Dental and Major Dental limits quickly. If you're facing root canal treatment, call your fund before proceeding and ask: "What is my remaining Major Dental benefit for this year, and what does item number [your dentist's quoted items] pay?" Your dentist can give you the item numbers.
Concession card holders: If you hold a Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pension Concession Card, or DVA card, you may be eligible for emergency dental treatment through your state's public dental service at no cost or reduced cost. Call the state dental number listed above before attending a private clinic if cost is a barrier.