Emergency Dental Townsville

Get seen right away! Tooth ache, broken tooth or dental trauma emergency? Same day emergency dentist appointments available Monday-Friday with one of our experienced and highly skilled Dentists. Call now on 07 4755 2055 or Book Online here.

Why chose North Queensland Family Dental for your dental emergency?

1. Our experienced and highly skilled team
2. We use the latest dental technologies
3. Interest free payment plans
4. Gentle and caring approach

Don’t neglect a dental injury! Even toothaches require treatment as soon as possible to address problems and stop them from getting worse. Contact our friendly team at 07 4755 2055  to make your appointment.

How to handle dental emergencies

There are times in life when swift action and quick thinking is required. This may be in the case of a fire, an evacuation – but a toothache?

Yes, even toothaches require emergency treatment from time to time. Neglecting dental injuries – such as knocked out, chipped or cracked teeth, or broken dental hardware such as braces, permanent retainers, fillings and crowns – can have serious implications, including cavities, severe pain and perhaps a more involved or more costly dental procedure later down the line.

Whether you’ve sustained a dental injury while playing a contact sport or simply while eating your dinner, it’s wise to consult an emergency dentist – this is a practitioner who is available after normal business hours to tend to your needs.

However, there are ways you can handle a dental emergency while waiting to receive professional treatment. Here’s what you can do:

Toothaches

Tooth pain has a wide variety of causes, from bruxism (teeth grinding) to cavities, gum disease, an exposed root or even an ear or sinus infection. That’s why it’s important to consult both your doctor and your dentist if you’re having significant, consistent tooth pain.

In the meantime, taking paracetamol or ibuprofen – whichever over-the-counter pain reliever you normally take for headaches and other soreness – can reduce associated pain and inflammation. A cold compress on the outside of your cheek may also help.

Knocked-out tooth

If you have the tooth, hold it by the crown and gently rinse any dirt away from the root.

As soon as possible after the tooth has fallen out, we recommend you put the tooth in a small cup of milk or your own saliva. This will encourage cell growth and minimise the risk of the tooth drying out. Call your dentist straight away – the sooner you can reinsert the tooth, the better chance you have to save it.

Lost filling or crown

If you’ve lost a crown and still have it, rinse the inside and re-attach it using tooth cement – available at most pharmacies – or petroleum jelly for a temporary fix. Do not use any glue that was not designed for dental use – this could compound your problems.

It’s best not to wait too long before calling your dentist, since a crown-less tooth may be weaker than a normal one, and an unfilled cavity can become painful or worsen over time.

How do you contact us?

North Queensland Family Dental is on standby for your emergency calls. If you sustain an injury, have a severe tooth ache or loose a crown or cap, contact us on 07 4755 2055.

Bitten tongue

Ouch! If you accidentally bit your tongue or lip, clean the area pronto with a piece of cotton or mouthwash. If swelling starts, it’s time to compress a frozen ice pack over the affected area. In more serious instances, uncontrolled bleeding can occur which means you should get to our practice or the hospital; especially if stitches are required.

Obstructed gums

If an annoying piece of food or object happens to be jammed between your teeth, it’s best to try to gently remove it with dental floss. Don’t ever attempt to use a sharp object (such as a toothpick, pin or tweezers), as you risk cutting soft gum tissue. If you have no luck in dislodging the obstruction, contact our practice.

Damaged tooth

Having a broken or chipped tooth means you need to rinse your mouth out with warm, salty water to kill any germs. Be sure to avoid swallowing any broken remaining parts of your teeth. Apply a frozen ice pack on the affected area if you’re experiencing pain and contact our practice. If you’ve cracked a tooth, it’s not as serious if it’s small. However, it’s often difficult or impossible to fully assess the damage of a cracked tooth just by looking at it, so you should still contact one of our professionals to examine it and make any treatment recommendations.

Broken Jaw

If you think you’ve injured your jaw, see a medical professional immediately.

Swelling, pain, numbness in the lower lip, oral bleeding and bruises on your chin are all tell-tale signs of a broken jaw. If you feel like you have fractured or injured your jaw in some way, immediately apply a frozen ice pack against the area. This will control further swelling while you make your way to the nearest hospital. Do take painkillers if needed, but avoid aspirin which can make bleeding worse.