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Emergency Dental Care in Sydney
Dealing with sudden dental pain, a knocked-out tooth, or swelling that won’t settle down? About Smiles is a Sydney dental group with five locations Chatswood, Circular Quay, Crows Nest, Eastgardens and Zetland providing emergency dental care and aiming to see urgent issues promptly, with same-day appointments where possible. For patients dealing with a dental emergency, getting the right care quickly can make a real difference to how the situation resolves. Knowing there’s a local team you can contact can also take some of the panic out of a stressful moment you can find your nearest About Smiles clinic and call to have an urgent problem assessed.
If you are experiencing a serious medical emergency, severe uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or facial trauma, please call 000 or attend your nearest hospital emergency department immediately.
Emergency Dental Care and Why It Matters
Emergency dental care is essential for addressing urgent oral health concerns that can’t wait for a routine check-up or a regular appointment. Severe pain, dental injuries or swelling need prompt treatment to help prevent lasting damage and restore comfort. At About Smiles, we aim to see emergencies as quickly as our schedule allows, with same day appointments where possible. Timely care can help preserve your smile and avoid more complex treatment further down the line, which is why we encourage patients not to delay when something feels seriously wrong.
Dental emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time, and knowing where to turn can make a stressful situation feel a little more manageable. Having a local practice that can prioritise urgent cases means you’re not left waiting for pain relief or assessment when something goes wrong. With five clinics across Sydney, there’s a good chance one is close to you.
Common Dental Emergencies We Treat
- Severe tooth pain — assessment and relief for pain caused by decay, infection or abscesses, which may require root canal treatment to save the tooth
- Knocked-out teeth — emergency care aimed at saving and reinserting a knocked-out tooth following an injury or trauma
- Broken or cracked teeth — prompt repairs, which may involve crowns, veneers or a denture repair, to help restore the function and appearance of damaged teeth
- Swelling and infections — treatment for abscesses and gum inflammation to help relieve pain and address infection
Each of these situations can escalate if left untreated, which is part of why acting quickly matters. Even when a problem seems minor at first a small chip, or mild sensitivity it’s worth booking a check-up promptly rather than waiting to see whether it settles on its own. What feels manageable today can sometimes become a more involved problem if left unaddressed.
Emergency Care at Our Sydney Clinics
At About Smiles, our team brings more than 80 years of combined dental experience across general and cosmetic dentistry, with a compassionate, patient-focused approach when it matters most. We aim to see urgent cases quickly, with same day appointments where possible, and our clinics are equipped to handle a range of urgent dental issues. We also see children as well as adults for dental emergencies, from teeth knocked out during sport to sudden toothache, with a gentle, reassuring approach.
For emergencies that call for more involved care, such as surgical extractions, our team includes Dr Ashish Gohil at our Zetland clinic, whose scope includes oral surgery. Sedation dentistry is available following an individual assessment, where appropriate it isn’t suitable for everyone, and your dentist will discuss whether it’s right for you. As an NSQHS accredited group, we follow recognised national safety and quality standards. And because a dental emergency is stressful enough without a language barrier, some of our clinicians consult in additional languages Mandarin and Cantonese at our Chatswood and Crows Nest clinics (Dr Mark Mingjie Lu), and Vietnamese at Circular Quay (Dr Gregory Nguyen).
Our Emergency Dental Treatment Process
Step One
Urgent Booking:
Call your nearest About Smiles clinic to arrange an emergency appointment, so your situation can be assessed as quickly as our schedule allows same day where possible.
Step Two
Assessment and Treatment:
Your dentist evaluates your condition, recommends an appropriate treatment plan, and provides care aimed at pain relief, restoration or emergency repair as needed.
Step Three
Aftercare:
You’ll receive personalised aftercare guidance and, where necessary, a schedule for any follow-up appointments to support your ongoing oral health.
Throughout the process, our priority is getting you out of pain and stabilising the situation, with longer-term treatment planning handled once the immediate emergency has been addressed. This staged approach means you’re not left waiting for a complete treatment plan before receiving relief for the immediate problem. Once things are stable, we’ll talk through any further treatment that may be needed, without the pressure of deciding everything on the spot.
Is This the Right Care for Your Situation?
If you’re unsure whether what you’re experiencing counts as a dental emergency, it’s generally better to call and check rather than wait it out.
This may apply to you if you have:
Persistent tooth pain or sensitivity
A knocked-out, chipped or cracked tooth
Swelling, tenderness or signs of infection
How it can help:
Helps relieve discomfort and reduce the risk of further complications
Aims to preserve natural teeth and restore your smile
Supports a quicker return to daily activities without ongoing pain
It may be particularly relevant if you are:
Experiencing sudden, severe dental discomfort or trauma
A parent seeking prompt care for a child’s dental issue
Needing an urgent dental assessment
Helping You Protect Your Smile
Our team provides treatments that may improve comfort and function, with every plan built around your individual situation. Results differ for each person and will be discussed with you directly as part of your assessment and treatment. Whatever the cause of your emergency, our focus is on getting you comfortable again as quickly and safely as possible.
Our Sydney Locations
If you have a dental emergency, contact your nearest About Smiles clinic directly:
- Chatswood — 2/63A Archer Street, Chatswood NSW 2067 · (02) 9415 3555. Practitioners here include Dr Mark Mingjie Lu (Mandarin and Cantonese; also at Crows Nest), Dr David Argent, Dr David Young and Dr Eugene Foo.
- Circular Quay — Ground Floor, Shop LCC125, 17 Young Street, Circular Quay NSW 2000 · (02) 8319 2323. Practitioners here include Dr Aodhan Docherty and Dr Gregory Nguyen (English and Vietnamese).
- Crows Nest — Suite 103, Level 1, 22 Clarke Street, Crows Nest NSW 2065 · (02) 8622 3900. Dr Mark Mingjie Lu consults here in addition to Chatswood.
- Eastgardens — Shop 350, Level 3, Westfield Eastgardens, 152 Bunnerong Road, Eastgardens NSW 2036 · (02) 8488 9994. Practitioners here include Dr Sabrina Chong, Dr Lucy Cracknell and Dr Jacinda Stamenkovic.
- Zetland — 4/6 Defries Avenue, Zetland NSW 2017 · (02) 9313 6388. Practitioners here include Dr Ashish Gohil (oral surgery) and Dr Danny Nguyen-Ngo, who lists emergency dental care among his areas of care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a dental emergency?
Generally, this includes severe or persistent pain, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth, or noticeable swelling and signs of infection. If you’re unsure, calling your nearest clinic for guidance is always a reasonable first step. For a serious medical emergency, severe bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or facial trauma, call 000 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
What should I do with a knocked-out tooth before I get to the practice?
Where possible, avoid touching the root of the tooth, and if you can, keep it moist by placing it in milk or holding it in your mouth beside your cheek until you’re seen. Contact us straight away, as prompt attention can improve the chances of saving the tooth.
Which About Smiles clinic should I contact in an emergency?
Call whichever of our five clinics is closest to you Chatswood, Circular Quay, Crows Nest, Eastgardens or Zetland using the numbers listed above. We prioritise same-day appointments for genuine dental emergencies wherever possible, and the team can assess your situation and arrange the most appropriate appointment time.
Do you treat children’s dental emergencies?
Yes. We see children as well as adults for urgent dental issues, including knocked out or chipped teeth and sudden toothache, and take a gentle, reassuring approach to help a distressed child feel more at ease.
Will my private health extras cover an emergency visit?
Many patients use private health extras cover towards emergency dental treatment, though the amount depends on your level of cover and the care needed. About Smiles works with Australian private health funds and offers HICAPS claiming where applicable, and our team can talk you through what to expect once your situation has been assessed.