Emergency dental care

The Smiling Starts Early Childhood Dental Program focuses on preventive treatment.

In the event of a dental emergency, if a child is finding it hard to breathe, becomes unresponsive or their condition is quickly getting worse, go straight to the Emergency Department or call 000.

For all other dental emergencies call your local dental practice during business hours.

If after hours, contact the Dental Health Services after-hours emergency advice service on 1800 098 818.

What constitutes a dental emergency for my child?

A dental emergency can include any of the following:

• swelling of the face
• trauma to the face
• uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth
• severe mouth pain disrupting sleep
• a fractured tooth exposing the nerve, or
• significant dental trauma, such as a knocked-out tooth.

In the event of a dental emergency, call your local dental practice during business hours.

If after hours, contact the Dental Health Services after-hours emergency advice service on 1800 098 818.

If my child’s baby tooth is knocked out, should it be placed back in?

If your child's baby tooth is knocked out, do not attempt to place it back in the socket. Reinserting a baby tooth can lead to complications and potentially damage the underlying permanent tooth.

In the event of a dental emergency, call your local dental practice during business hours. If after hours, contact the Dental Health Services after-hours emergency advice service on 1800 098 818.

What if there is a dental emergency at night? 

For night-time dental emergencies, you can contact the Dental Health Services after-hours emergency advice service on 1800 098 818. This service is available overnight from 6:30pm to 8:00am daily, for information on dealing with dental emergencies.