Emergency dentist in Box Hill North
Toothache, a broken tooth, swelling or a lost filling — ring the practice and we will find you the earliest appointment we have. Dentrust is on Middleborough Road, a few minutes from Box Hill, Blackburn, Mont Albert and Surrey Hills.
What to do in the first thirty minutes
What you do before you reach a dentist can change what treatment is possible. Ring us while you follow these steps.
01
A tooth has been knocked out
Pick the tooth up by the crown, never the root. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline — not water, and do not scrub it. Put it straight back in the socket if you can and bite gently on a clean cloth. If you cannot, keep it in milk or the person’s own saliva and get to us as quickly as possible. Time matters a great deal for adult teeth. Do not try to reimplant a baby tooth.
02
A tooth is broken or chipped
Rinse your mouth with warm water and keep any pieces in milk. Use a cold compress on the outside of the cheek for swelling. Avoid chewing on that side and steer clear of very hot or cold food and drink until we have seen you.
03
You are in pain
Take the pain relief you would normally take for a headache, following the packet directions, and do not exceed the stated dose. Do not hold aspirin or any tablet against the gum — it burns the tissue. A cold compress on the cheek can help. Ring us and describe what you are feeling.
04
There is swelling, fever or difficulty swallowing
Swelling that is spreading across the face or neck, a fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing needs urgent medical attention. Go to your nearest emergency department or ring 000. Do not wait for a dental appointment.
The problems we see most often
Most dental emergencies fall into a handful of categories. Knowing which one you are dealing with helps us prepare before you arrive.
Toothache
Persistent or throbbing pain often means decay has reached the nerve, or an existing filling has failed. We take an X-ray, find the cause and talk you through the options, which may include a filling, root canal treatment or removal.
Broken or chipped tooth
A chip may need nothing more than smoothing and a tooth-coloured filling. A larger break can need a crown, and sometimes root canal treatment if the nerve is exposed.
Lost filling or crown
Bring the crown with you if you still have it — in many cases it can be recemented. A lost filling leaves the tooth vulnerable, so it is worth having looked at rather than left.
Swelling or abscess
An abscess is an infection that will not resolve on its own. Treatment usually means draining the infection and then addressing the tooth. Spreading facial swelling is a medical emergency, not a dental one.
Wisdom tooth pain
Pain behind the back molars is often a partly erupted wisdom tooth with inflamed gum around it. We assess whether it settles with cleaning and care, or whether removal is the better option.
Bleeding gums or trauma
Gums that bleed heavily, or a cut to the lip, cheek or tongue after a knock, should be assessed. Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze on the way in.
What happens when you ring
Tell whoever answers what has happened and how long it has been going on. That decides how we book you — a knocked-out tooth is dealt with differently from a filling that came out last week.
When you arrive we examine the area, take an X-ray if one is needed, and explain what we have found. In most cases the first appointment is about settling the pain or infection and stabilising the tooth. Definitive treatment — a crown, a root canal, a replacement — is usually planned for a later visit once things have calmed down.
You will be given a written, itemised quote before any treatment beyond the examination goes ahead. We claim from your health fund on the spot through HICAPS, so you pay only the gap. Eligible children can be treated under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.
What we cannot promise
We are a general practice, not a hospital, and we are not open around the clock. If you are ringing outside practice hours, contact the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne in Carlton on 1300 360 054, or attend your nearest emergency department if the problem is a facial injury, uncontrolled bleeding, spreading swelling or difficulty breathing.
All dental treatment carries some risk, and outcomes vary between people. Some teeth cannot be saved. Where that is the case we will tell you plainly and set out the alternatives, including what happens if you do nothing.
Common questions
How quickly can I be seen?
Ring the practice and describe the problem. We will give you the earliest appointment we have and tell you honestly when that is, rather than leaving you waiting for a call back.
Do I need to be an existing patient?
No. We see new patients and you do not need a referral.
What will it cost?
An emergency examination and X-ray is the first step, and you will have a written itemised quote before any further treatment. Costs depend entirely on what is found, so we do not quote a figure over the phone without seeing the tooth.
Can I claim on my health fund?
Yes. We have HICAPS on site, so your fund is claimed at the time and you pay the difference. What you get back depends on your level of cover.
Should I go to the hospital instead?
Go to an emergency department or ring 000 if you have spreading facial swelling, a fever with dental pain, trouble breathing or swallowing, bleeding that will not stop, or a suspected jaw fracture. Everything else is better dealt with by a dentist.
It stopped hurting on its own. Do I still need to come in?
Usually yes. Pain that disappears can mean the nerve inside the tooth has died, which does not fix the problem — it simply removes the warning. It is worth having it checked.
Related pages
Other parts of the site people usually read alongside this one.
Not every wisdom tooth needs removing. Assessment first, with imaging.
Ring the practice on 03 9899 0098
579 Middleborough Rd, Box Hill North VIC 3129. Off-street parking at the door. We see patients from Box Hill, Box Hill South, Blackburn, Mont Albert, Surrey Hills, Kerrimuir and Doncaster.
Dentrust is a general dental practice. Our dentists are registered with the Dental Board of Australia. This page is general information, not a diagnosis — your treatment depends on an examination.