Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Emergency Dentistry

We encourage you to please contact an emergency dentist immediately whenever you experience sudden or severe dental problems.

Quick action can help prevent further damage, reduce pain and increase the chances of saving a tooth or preventing infection.

Common situations that require urgent dental attention include:

• Severe tooth pain that doesn’t improve with over-the-counter pain relief
• Knocked-out teeth (avulsed teeth) due to injury or trauma
• Broken or fractured teeth from an accident, bite or injury
• Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding from the gums, mouth or after dental treatment
• Swelling of the gums, face or jaw which could indicate infection or abscess
• Dental abscess or signs of infection, including pus, fever or tenderness
• Loose or dislodged teeth from trauma
• Severe jaw pain or locking of the jaw
• Problems with dental work such as broken crowns, loose fillings or damaged implants

Even if you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies as an emergency, we recommend that you please call and speak with our emergency dentist in West Lakes, Grange and Tennyson. Prompt evaluation can help prevent complications, reduce discomfort and improve long-term outcomes for your oral health.

Having a Dental Emergency in West Lakes or Surrounding Suburbs? Get in touch.

At Providence Dental Care, we prioritise emergency patients and aim to provide compassionate, effective care to manage pain, treat the problem and restore your smile as quickly as possible.

Yes we offer same-day emergency appointments!

To book an emergency appointment, you can book online or call us on (08) 7082 5161.

If no suitable appointments are available online try calling, we may be able to squeeze you in!

What should I do if a filling or crown falls out?

If a filling or crown comes out, try to keep the restoration if you can and bring it with you to your appointment. In some cases it may be able to be reused or helps us assess what is needed.

Please contact the practice as soon as possible, either by phone or online booking, to arrange an appointment. When booking, it is helpful to let us know which tooth is affected, for example the "upper left second tooth from the back", and whether you are experiencing any pain or sensitivity.

Providing this information allows us to prepare appropriately and maximises our chance to help you on the day when you attend.

If the tooth is painful, sharp, or sensitive, try to avoid chewing on that side until you are seen.

If you develop a toothache, the most important step is to contact our clinic to arrange an appointment so the cause of the pain can be professionally assessed. Tooth pain can result from many different factors, including dental decay, infection, cracked teeth, gum problems, or clenching and grinding (bruxism).

At Providence Dental Care in West Lakes, we prioritise assessing dental pain to help find the most appropriate solution for our patients.

Immediate steps for dental pain

While waiting for your appointment at our Charles Street clinic:

• Avoid chewing on the affected side to prevent further irritation or potential damage.
• Over-the-counter pain relief may provide temporary comfort if it is appropriate for your medical history, but this should not be relied upon as a long-term solution.

When is a toothache an emergency?

If your pain is severe, worsening, associated with facial swelling, or affecting your ability to sleep, it should be assessed as soon as possible. These symptoms can sometimes indicate an underlying infection that requires prompt clinical attention.

The benefit of early assessment

Seeking an early assessment from a dentist often allows dental problems to be managed more simply. Addressing a toothache early helps to reduce the risk of further complications and can often save a tooth that might otherwise require more complex treatment.

For residents in West Lakes and the surrounding Western Suburbs, our team is here to provide the necessary care and guidance to get you back to comfort.