General & Preventive Dentistry
When something goes wrong, ring us.
Dental problems do not wait for a convenient week. A tooth breaks on a Tuesday, a filling comes out the night before a trip, or a pain that was manageable on Friday becomes unbearable by Sunday.
From opening in December 2026, we will hold two same-day emergency appointments each day. Call 03 5208 9006 first thing in the morning to secure one. Emergency appointments cannot be booked online.
We do not offer after-hours care. If you have a dental emergency outside our opening hours, please go to the Emergency Department at South West Healthcare.
What counts as urgent
Toothache. Particularly pain that keeps you awake, lingers after hot or cold, or is accompanied by swelling.
Facial or gum swelling. Swelling suggests infection and should be assessed promptly.
A broken or chipped tooth. Even without pain, exposed dentine is vulnerable and sharp edges cut the tongue.
A lost filling or crown. Keep the crown if you have it and bring it with you; it can sometimes be recemented.
A knocked-out adult tooth. Handle it by the crown, not the root. If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline — never scrub it. If you can, place it back in the socket and hold it there; otherwise keep it in milk. Get to us immediately. Time is the single biggest factor in whether the tooth can be saved.
Bleeding that will not settle after an extraction, or trauma to the lips, cheeks or gums.
Something stuck between teeth or under the gum that you cannot dislodge.
Go to hospital instead if
Swelling is affecting your breathing or swallowing, is closing your eye, or is spreading down your neck. Bleeding is heavy and will not stop with firm pressure. You have had a significant facial injury or suspect a fractured jaw.
In those situations go to the emergency department at South West Healthcare or call 000. These are the circumstances where a dental practice is not the right place to start.
What to expect at an emergency appointment
The first priority is getting you comfortable and working out what is causing the problem. That usually means an examination, an X-ray of the tooth involved, and a clear explanation of what is going on.
Some problems are resolved on the day. Others need settling first — draining an infection, dressing a tooth, adjusting a bite — with definitive treatment planned once you are out of pain and able to think clearly about your options. We will tell you which situation you are in and what it costs before proceeding.
While you wait to be seen
Over-the-counter pain relief taken according to the packet directions, provided it is safe for you, is usually more effective than nothing. Do not hold aspirin against the gum; it burns the tissue. A cold compress on the outside of the face can help with swelling. Avoid very hot, very cold or very hard food on that side.
If the tooth is sensitive to heat and eased by cold, that is worth mentioning when you call.
Frequently asked questions
From opening in December 2026, we will hold two same-day emergency appointments each day. Call 03 5208 9006 first thing in the morning to secure one. Emergency appointments cannot be booked online.
No. Anyone in the Warrnambool and Port Fairy area is welcome to phone.
It depends on what is required. You will be given the cost of the emergency appointment and any treatment before it goes ahead.
Yes. Pain from an infected nerve often stops once the nerve dies, which is not the problem resolving — it is the problem progressing quietly.
Antibiotics may settle an infection temporarily, but they do not treat the cause. The tooth still needs attention, and antibiotics are prescribed only where clinically indicated.
We do not offer after-hours care. If you have a dental emergency outside our opening hours, please go to the Emergency Department at South West Healthcare. For a genuine medical emergency involving airway, uncontrolled bleeding or facial trauma, call 000.