Emergency
Dental Treatments 
Jump to:
Toothache.
Many people describe toothache as the worst pain they have ever experienced. So if you’re unfortunate enough to develop severe dental pain you’ll want it treated immediately.
There are many different causes of toothache, but if the nerve of a tooth is dying or dead, there are usually only two possible treatments to solve the issue long-term – rootcanal therapy or extraction.
For either of these two treatment options, once decided, the priority will be to get you completely numb through the use of local anaesthetic injections. After that you will feel no further pain through the procedures.
- Fast diagnosis, treatment and pain relief solutions
- Same-day treatment means you’ll feel relief right away
- Treatment at affordable, fixed prices
Extraction.
If you opt for extraction, this will usually be done immediately. We have the experience and skills to remove almost any tooth at the Dental SOS clinic. However, there are exceptions. If a tooth is very deeply buried, impacted, or close to vital anatomical structures, we may need to refer you elsewhere, with appropriate painkillers in the meantime.
Similarly, sometimes patient behaviour factors mean that we cannot take a tooth out on-site – for example, some uncooperative children, those with particular special needs, or even occasional adults who are simply too phobic to allow the treatment to continue. These patients may need a general anaesthetic.
If we need to extract a tooth, then we aim to do this as efficiently and comfortably as possible, using precise forces with special extraction instruments at different angles to the tooth and roots. Some firm pressure is required at times and the process is uncomfortable, even though you are numb and cannot feel pain. Once the tooth is removed, we will apply pressure and make sure any bleeding is controlled before you go home.
If you want, you can then go and see another dentist to talk about an implant, bridge, or denture to replace the extracted tooth.
- Immediate pain relief by removing infected tissue
- Tooth preserved with temporary antibacterial dressing
- Clear next steps to complete treatment with your regular dentist
Root Canal Treatment – Extirpation.
If you opt to save and retain the tooth with root canal therapy, we will conduct the first stage at your emergency appointment (called an extirpation). This will resolve most of the pain and buy you some time to visit another dentist and complete the treatment (which may involve two to three more visits and significant expense).
Again, this treatment commences with the local anaesthetic, as it would be very uncomfortable otherwise. We then apply something called a rubber dam to your tooth/mouth. This protects the back of your throat and stops the inside of the tooth that we are treating from getting any more bacteria in it.
We then use a dental drill to find the infected root canals. These are tiny little tubes through the middle of the roots, which carry the microscopic nerves and blood vessels that usually keep a tooth alive. Once these root canals become infected, they nearly always become inflamed and begin to die. Because there is no room for swelling inside the hard shell of the tooth, any inflammation causes extreme pain, which is why toothache can be such an utterly miserable experience.
We then use further tiny files and drills to relieve the pressure and start to remove the infected tissue. We place an antibacterial and anaesthetic dressing in the tooth to calm things down, giving you time to book an appointment with your regular dentist, or to find a regular dentist, to complete the treatment.
- Fast, pain-free removal using local anaesthetic
- Bleeding managed and healing advice provided
- Option to replace the tooth with a denture, bridge or implant
Broken Tooth or Lost Filling.
Whether you have a small chip or a big hole in a tooth, it’s usually best to fix it sooner rather than later. You may have some associated pain, some food trapping in the hole, a cosmetic issue (especially with front teeth), or simply a rough/sharp area that annoys you. Whatever the problem is, we will fix your broken tooth immediately.
The main filling material that we use at Dental SOS is composite resin. This is the most common long-term tooth-coloured restorative (filling) material used in dentistry. We DO NOT use any metal fillings at all, as we think the use of mercury-containing amalgam fillings should now be a thing of the past.
Composite resin is strong, and adheres (bonds) to teeth, and can therefore often last for many years. Because it’s tooth-coloured, it can blend in very well with natural teeth.
There are some situations where a tooth is fractured so badly that it will need more than a simple filling to repair it in the long term. This might mean a treatment like a crown (a rigid external casing for the tooth) is more appropriate. If this is the case, we will let you know. While we will still stabilise and smooth the tooth, it may be that it is too weak to build up to its full size if you are likely to simply break it again when you bite on it.
An alternative filling material we might use is glass ionomer cement (GIC) – this tends to be more of a medium-term filling material. We might use this where the use of composite resin is impossible, or where we know that you are going to need to attend another dentist for follow-up treatment anyway. Additionally, we will often use this material in children’s baby teeth if they are going to be lost fairly soon anyway, to keep their treatment as quick and painless as possible.
- Same day treatment options
- Temporary or permanent repairs
- Tooth coloured fillings available
Swelling or Infection.
If you have significant swelling affecting your airway, you should attend a hospital or call 000 immediately.
For less severe swelling, small lumps, ‘pimples’ on your gum, swollen gums around wisdom teeth, or pus in your mouth, you should seek treatment with us, as dental and periodontal (gum) infections will often spread if untreated.
Once the source of the infection has been identified, we will treat it appropriately. Occasionally, the only immediate treatment is an antibiotic prescription. If this is the case, you will only be charged your $50 deposit.
By far the most common types of infection in the mouth are peri-apical infection (which is infection at the end of the root of a tooth, usually caused by the tooth dying) and periodontal infection (a gum abscess, where the bacteria is getting down the side of the tooth under the gum).
A peri-apical infection usually requires either root canal or an extraction to fix it, while a periodontal infection may only need some very thorough cleaning with a local anaesthetic to remove the infection under the gum. However, severe periodontal infection will also lead to an extraction. Antibiotics can also be helpful in some cases.
Other infections and swellings can be caused by:
- Pericoronitis, a localised infection of a flap of gum, most commonly around wisdom teeth which are growing through the gum.
- Infected salivary glands, the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands/ducts can all become infected and painful.
- Thrush – a fungal infection found most commonly in those with dentures, and sometimes those that use steroid inhalers (e.g. asthmatics).
- Herpes viruses, most commonly causing cold sores, but others presentations are not uncommon.
- Less common serious infections, including STDs.
- Diagnosis and assessment to find and treat the source of the infection
- Drainage and take other steps to give you immediate pain relief
- Prescriptions for antibiotics are available if required
Dental Trauma (Adults).
If you have had an impact injury to your mouth resulting in any damage or pain, it is usually wise to have this assessed and treated as soon as possible. The damage may be as limited as a cut lip, or as severe as multiple teeth being knocked out, but whatever the damage, we can assess fully and treat as required.
Dental trauma is always an emergency, as rapid treatment can be the difference between saving a tooth and losing it. For example:
- the longer that deeper layers of a tooth are exposed, the more chance of the tooth dying.
- the longer that a displaced tooth is allowed to remain in the incorrect position, the harder it will be to return to its correct alignment and bite.
- the longer that a tooth that has been completely knocked out has been out of the mouth, the less chance of its being able to be replaced.
As a general rule, if you have a fractured or explanted (fully knocked out) tooth, the best place to keep it is inside your mouth in the little pouch between your cheek and your bottom back teeth. This prevents drying out and keeps it exposed to saliva. If you are uncomfortable keeping it in your mouth, put it in some milk to keep it safe.
Either way, book an emergency appointment immediately.
- Emergency treatment for the trauma
- Repositioning or splinting to stabilise the tooth and avoid long-term damage
- Ongoing care referrals and guidance
Dental Trauma (Children).
Damaged teeth are distressing for anybody, but as anybody who has ever had an injured child will know, this is a particularly harrowing experience. We will always see injured children as a priority, and they will ‘jump the queue’.
There are a lot of variables involved in child dental trauma, most importantly whether the tooth damaged is a baby tooth or an adult tooth. If it is an adult tooth, we will do everything we can to fix it. However, if it is a baby tooth, then sometimes the safest course of action is to accept the loss of the tooth if it is very badly damaged or has been completely knocked out.
Any decision here is on a case-by-case basis and will be discussed with you fully.
- Emergency treatment for the trauma
- Gentle and reassuring treatment and communication
- Pain-free treatment options available
Poorly Localised Pain or Discomfort.
It isn’t uncommon for the source of pain in the mouth to be difficult to track down.
Most people don’t get any pain at all from their teeth for most of their lives
(thankfully) which means that the brain has little or no experience in working out
where exactly pain is coming from when the teeth do start sending out painful
distress signals. Sometimes a patient will be utterly convinced that pain is coming
from a top tooth, and it turns out to be a bottom tooth, and vice versa.
Sometimes a tooth will only hurt in specific situations, and often intermittently. For
example this might only be when you eat a particular type of food and it hits the tooth at a
particular angle. This is often a sign of a small sub-surface crack somewhere in the
tooth, which can be one of the hardest dental problems to diagnose correctly.
With extensive testing and the use of X-rays it’s usually possible to work out what is
causing the pain. However, very occasionally, the source cannot be tracked down at
the first appointment. If this proves to be the case, you will only be charged the $50
pre-paid appointment fee.
- Comprehensive investigation and diagnosis process
- Targeted treatment options to find and treat the source of your pain
- Expert assessments help you avoid unnecessary treatments
Sensitivity.
If you have a sensitive tooth or teeth, this can range from being an occasional minor inconvenience to a daily serious pain. It may be that you have sensitivity when you have hot or cold food or drinks, to sweet foods, to pressure when you are biting, or perhaps when you are brushing your teeth.
There are a variety of treatments depending on the cause, but often desensitising agents or varnishes, or simple fillings are the first choice for resolution of sensitivity.
Since there is a large range of different severities and treatments for the blanket term ‘sensitivity’, proper diagnosis and discussion of treatment options is imperative, as there is certainly no one-size-fits-all sensitivity treatment.
- Assessment and diagnosis of the cause of the sensitivity
- Application of protective agents or other repairs as needed
- Long-lasting relief and prevention
Loose or Detached Crowns, Bridges & Implants.
When expensive dental treatments fail, it is critical to get on top of the problem immediately to prevent further damage, pain, or infection. Not all complex issues can be completely solved in one visit, but we can stabilise your mouth until you are able to see your regular dentist.
If a previous treatment has completely failed, we will let you know so that you can return to your original dentist to either fix things or come up with a new treatment approach.
We also have huge experience with all implant treatments and systems. If you have had implant treatment, you might know that there are different screwdrivers and instruments for each individual implant system, but we have the full range of screwdrivers available to fit any given situation.
- Resecure or replace loose restorations and dental work
- Temporary or permanent fixes
- Same day appointments available, with minimal fuss and cost
Miscellaneous Emergencies.
There are dozens of other potential problems that could affect the mouth and associated structures:
- Jaw joint (TMJ) pain or dysfunction
- Infection/Blockage of salivary ducts and glands
- Sinus issues
- Ulcers, burns, other soft tissue issues
- And unfortunately very serious pathology like benign of malignant tumours
Whatever the emergency is, we are here for you 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.
- We treat all dental emergencies
- No referrals needed
- Same-day appointments available
Book online & get treatment right away.
We keep things simple. Book online, pay your booking fee, get expert treatment within 24 hours. You’ll walk out pain free and ready to take on the world again. All in one affordable visit.
Book online instantly and pay a $50 booking fee
This claims your appointment time and covers our initial diagnosis.
Come in for your quick diagnosis
We’ll confirm your issue and explain your treatment options.
We’ll treat your issue quickly
No waiting, no extra visits. Just straightforward same-day care.
Pay the fixed fee for your treatment
We offer simple, transparent, fixed pricing to avoid confusion and “hidden extras”.
Don’t wait for the pain to get worse.
Book your appointment now.
We’re available
365 days a year!
What our patients say.
Dental SOS is pretty new, but our team have already received many 5-star reviews. Here’s what some of our patients have to say about our Dental SOS team.
"The service is unmatched"
Maddy
"I highly recommend this clinic for your dental needs."
Denise McLarty
“What truly stood out was their pricing."
Taleb Elmaneh
“I cannot recommend them highly enough"
Ben Morgan
“This is a very caring professional clinic"
Narrelle Broughton
Find Us
390 Burwood Road *
Hawthorn, VIC 3122
Opening Hours
Our hours are simple:
6pm to midnight,
365 days per year
* Plenty of on-street parking after 6pm
Just a two minute walk from Glenferrie Station on the Alamein, Belgrave and Lilydale lines
