Emergency dentist in Cheltenham

Do you need to see a dentist today?

If you have severe toothache, a broken tooth, a lost filling or crown, a knocked-out tooth or facial swelling, call us as early in the day as you can. Park Road Dental holds emergency spaces in the daily schedule, so we make room the same day wherever possible. Phoning first lets our team prioritise your treatment, prepare the chair and give you first-aid advice while you make your way to us at 155 Park Road, Cheltenham.

What we treat as a dental emergency

We handle the full range of urgent problems. This includes severe or throbbing toothache, broken and chipped teeth, lost or loose fillings and crowns, knocked-out or displaced teeth, sporting and accident trauma (a custom mouthguard helps reduce that risk), abscesses, and gum or facial swelling. Our first goal is to relieve your pain and stabilise the tooth. We use 3D CBCT imaging when needed to diagnose the cause accurately, then explain the options to fix it properly.

What usually happens at an emergency visit

Every emergency starts the same way: we find out what is wrong, usually with an examination and an X-ray, and get you out of pain. Then we explain your options and costs before doing anything more. Here is what typically happens for the most common problems.

• Toothache. Pain from deep decay or an inflamed nerve is often relieved on the day, either by placing a dressing or by starting root canal treatment. Sometimes removing the tooth is the better option, and we talk it through with you.
• Broken or chipped tooth. Small chips can often be repaired with tooth-coloured bonding. For a larger break, our in-house CEREC mill can make a ceramic same-day crown for suitable teeth, so you can leave with the tooth restored rather than in a temporary.
• Lost filling or crown. Bring the crown with you. If it is intact and the tooth is healthy we may be able to re-cement it. If not, we replace the filling or plan a new crown.
• Swelling or an abscess. We find the source of the infection and treat it, which may mean draining it, starting root canal treatment or removing the tooth. Antibiotics are prescribed only when they are actually needed.
• Painful wisdom tooth. We settle the gum around it and check on an X-ray whether the tooth should come out. Many wisdom teeth can be removed here in the practice.
• Knocked-out adult tooth. Time matters most. Follow our step-by-step guide on what to do if a tooth is knocked out and come straight in.

Close to Moorabbin, Mentone, Parkdale and Mordialloc

We are at 155 Park Road, Cheltenham, with free on-site parking, so the practice is a short drive for most of the surrounding suburbs. Patients come to us in a hurry from Moorabbin, Mentone, Highett, Parkdale, Mordialloc, Beaumaris, Dingley Village and Hampton. Cheltenham station on the Frankston line and Westfield Southland are both nearby. We are open six days, including Wednesday and Thursday evenings until 8 pm and Saturday mornings, which makes it easier to be seen after work or at the weekend.

What to do first, before you reach us

1. Toothache. Rinse with warm salt water and take your usual pain relief as directed. Avoid placing aspirin directly on the gum.
2. Knocked-out adult tooth. Hold it by the crown, rinse gently in milk, and if possible put it back in the socket — otherwise keep it in milk and come straight in.
3. Broken tooth or lost crown. Keep any pieces, rinse your mouth, and avoid chewing on that side until we see you.
4. Swelling. Call us promptly; swelling with fever or trouble swallowing needs urgent care at a hospital emergency department.

When to call us and when to call 000

Most dental emergencies — pain, breaks, lost fillings and knocked-out teeth — are best managed by phoning the practice on (03) 9584 4949 so we can see you quickly. However, if there is heavy bleeding that will not stop, a serious facial injury, or swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, treat it as a medical emergency and call 000 or attend the nearest hospital emergency department. When in doubt, ring us and we will guide you.

Emergency costs and health funds

Every emergency is different, so the cost depends on what is causing the problem and the treatment you need — an examination differs from a repair, root canal or extraction. We assess you first, relieve your pain, explain your options and give you a written quote before going ahead. All major Australian health funds are accepted and claimed on the spot, so if you have dental extras cover you can claim your rebate at the practice and pay only the gap.

Who will look after you

Emergencies are seen by our own dentists, not a rotating roster. Dr James Lee and Dr Harold Lee, the practice’s principal dentists, both hold a Master of Dentistry from La Trobe University and have a particular interest in restoring broken and damaged teeth — including same-day ceramic crowns milled on-site. Dr Wei-Hun Tjio has cared for Bayside families here since 2003 with more than 20 years in general practice, and Dr Dayana Gonzalez has a special interest in endodontics (root canal treatment) — often exactly what a badly infected tooth needs. All four are AHPRA-registered, and because we are open six days with evening sessions, there is usually a dentist available when things go wrong.

Parking and finding us in a hurry

The practice is at 155 Park Road, Cheltenham, with free on-site parking, so you can pull in and be in the chair minutes later — no circling side streets while your tooth throbs. We are close to Westfield Southland and Cheltenham railway station on the Frankston line if you are coming by train, and a short drive from Mentone, Highett, Sandringham and the Nepean Highway corridor. We are open until 8pm on Wednesday and Thursday and on Saturday mornings, so a work day doesn’t have to stand between you and pain relief.