Start with what you are feeling.
You do not need to know the name of the problem to get help with it. Pick whatever sounds closest to what is happening, and each page tells you what may be going on, what helps tonight, and whether it can wait until morning.
In a lot of pain, bleeding heavily or badly swollen? Start with our emergency page.
What is bothering you?
Tooth pain or toothache
Throbbing, aching, worse at night, or pain when you bite.
Swollen gum, cheek or face
A puffy gum, a swollen cheek, or a lump near a tooth.
Wisdom tooth pain
Ache at the very back, pain reaching the ear, on and off for weeks.
Broken or knocked-out tooth
A chip, a crack, or a tooth out of its socket. Time matters here.
Sensitive teeth
A jolt with cold, hot or sweet things, or when air hits a tooth.
Bleeding gums
Blood when you brush, or gums that bleed on their own.
Bad breath
Breath that does not improve however much you brush.
Jaw pain, clicking or locking
Clicking near the ear, a tired jaw, or a jaw that catches.
My child has toothache
What helps a child tonight, and how to make the visit easy.
Not on this list? Message us and describe it in your own words. Anything that has been going on for a while in your mouth, teeth or jaws is worth asking about.
Two things worth knowing before you wait it out
Pain stopping is not the same as a problem going away. When a nerve inside a tooth dies, the pain often disappears completely. The infection carries on quietly underneath, and it usually announces itself again at a much worse time. If pain came and went, it is still worth a look.
Painkillers and leftover antibiotics buy time, not repair. They can settle things for a few days, which is useful while you arrange a visit. What they cannot do is clean out the cause, so the relief runs out. Using an old course of antibiotics from a previous illness is worse than doing nothing.
Common questions
I am in pain right now. What should I do first?
Take paracetamol as directed on the pack, rinse gently with warm salty water, and hold a cold compress against the outside of the cheek if there is swelling. Then message or call us so we can see you. If there is swelling spreading towards your eye or into your neck, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or you cannot open your mouth, go to a hospital emergency department the same day rather than waiting for the clinic.
Is it worth coming in if the pain has settled on its own?
Usually yes. Pain that stops is not the same as a problem that has gone. A nerve that has died stops hurting, and an infection can sit quietly and then flare again, often at a worse moment. A short check tells you whether anything needs doing now or can safely be watched.
Do I need to know what is wrong before I book?
No. Describing what you feel is enough, and that is what these pages are for. We work out what it is when we examine you. Nobody is expected to arrive with a diagnosis.
Can I send a photo instead of coming in?
You can, and it helps us judge how urgently to see you, but a photo cannot replace an examination. Most dental problems sit inside or under a tooth where a camera cannot reach, so a photo tells us how soon, not what.
What if my symptom is not on this list?
Message us and describe it in your own words. Anything persistent in the mouth, teeth or jaws is worth asking about, including things that seem too small to mention.
Tell us what is happening
Describe the symptom in your own words. Our front desk will find you a time, and if it sounds urgent we will say so.
We reply within 15 minutes during clinic hours.