A cracked tooth at dinner, a throbbing toothache at midnight, a child’s tooth knocked out at Saturday sport. Dental emergencies never pick a good time. Here is exactly what to do on the Central Coast, and what it is likely to cost.
First: is it a hospital emergency?
Go straight to an emergency department if there is uncontrolled bleeding, facial swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, or a facial injury that may involve broken bones. For everything else, including severe toothache, chips, cracks, lost fillings or crowns, and knocked-out teeth, an emergency dentist is the right call.
What to do while you wait
- Toothache: rinse with warm salty water, use over-the-counter pain relief (never aspirin directly on the gum), and keep the head elevated.
- Knocked-out adult tooth: hold it by the crown, not the root. If clean, try to reinsert it; otherwise keep it in milk and get to a dentist within the hour if possible.
- Chipped or cracked tooth: save any fragments, rinse gently, and cover sharp edges with dental wax or sugar-free gum.
- Lost filling or crown: keep the crown, avoid chewing on that side, and book promptly. Exposed teeth deteriorate fast.
What does emergency dental cost?
It depends on what is found: an emergency consultation with X-ray is typically modest, while treatment costs vary with the fix your tooth needs. At Dental Smile we always give you an itemised quote before treatment begins, process health fund claims on the spot, and offer interest-free payment plans through Mediplan, so cost never has to delay urgent care.
Same-day emergency appointments in Charmhaven
We keep time aside each day for urgent cases at our Charmhaven clinic on the Pacific Highway. Call (02) 4330 0834 as early as you can, describe what has happened, and our team will prioritise you.
