If you are in pain right now, call or text us on 022 852 4000. We keep same-day emergency slots free every clinic day, for people across Auckland and for travellers passing through the airport. Here is what you can do to ease a toothache in the meantime, and how to tell when it is serious enough for hospital.
What to do for a toothache right now
A bad toothache is hard to ignore, and it often flares in the evening when clinics are closing. A few simple steps at home can make you more comfortable while you arrange to be seen. None of these fix the cause, so please still book in with us, but they can help you cope until then.
If you feel you need pain relief, a pharmacist can advise what is suitable for you, and we will guide any medication as part of your treatment once we have seen you. The steps below are gentle, practical things you can do straight away.
- 1/Hold a cold compress or wrapped ice pack against your cheek for about 15 minutes at a time to calm swelling and numb the area.
- 2/Rinse gently with warm salty water, about a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, to soothe the gum and keep it clean.
- 3/Prop your head up on an extra pillow at night, as lying flat can make the throbbing worse.
- 4/Avoid very hot, very cold and sugary food and drink, and try to chew on the other side.
- 5/Keep brushing gently around the sore tooth, even if it feels tender, to keep the area clean.
When a toothache is an emergency
Most toothaches are not life threatening, but some signs mean you should be seen straight away, and sometimes at a hospital rather than a dental clinic. Treat it as urgent if you have swelling that is spreading across your face, towards your eye, or down into your neck, if you are finding it hard to swallow or breathe, or if you have a fever along with the swelling. A dental infection can start as a sore tooth and then spread, so a bad taste, pus, or feeling generally unwell alongside a swollen face all deserve prompt attention.
If you are struggling to breathe or swallow, call 111. Otherwise you can call Healthline free on 0800 611 116, any time of the day or night, for advice on what to do and where to go.
A knocked-out adult tooth is one of the most time-sensitive emergencies, and acting fast gives the best chance of saving it. Hold the tooth by the crown, which is the part you normally see, and not by the root. If you feel able, gently place it back in the socket the right way round and bite softly on a clean cloth to hold it there. If you cannot, keep it moist in milk. Do not scrub it or let it dry out, and get to a dentist as quickly as you can, ideally within 30 to 60 minutes. A knocked-out baby tooth is different and should not be put back, as that can harm the adult tooth underneath, so call us for advice instead.
Can I go to hospital for tooth pain?
You can go to a hospital emergency department for dental problems, and you should if you have the serious symptoms above, a facial injury, or bleeding you cannot stop after 10 to 15 minutes of firm, steady pressure. What helps to understand is what an emergency department can and cannot do. Hospital teams manage severe infection, significant swelling and trauma, and they can provide urgent care where needed. They do not usually carry out the dental treatment itself, such as fillings, extractions or root canal.
For the actual repair, you still need a dentist. That is why, for a painful tooth without those red flag symptoms, calling a dental clinic is often the faster route to relief. We keep same-day emergency slots free every clinic day, so call or text us on 022 852 4000 as early in the day as you can and we will do our best to see you before we close.
Dental emergencies we can often see the same day
We hold time aside each clinic day for urgent problems, so there is a good chance we can help quickly. Ring or text early in the day if you can, so we have the best chance of fitting you in, and tell us what is happening so we can prioritise it.
- 1/Toothache and dental abscesses
- 2/Broken, cracked or chipped teeth
- 3/Lost or loose fillings and crowns
- 4/A knocked-out or pushed-out adult tooth
- 5/Broken or badly fitting dentures
- 6/Wisdom tooth pain and swelling
Care for all of Auckland, and for travellers passing through
We are at the Auckland Airport Shopping Centre, but the people we look after come from right across the region. Many are locals from South Auckland, including Māngere, Māngere Bridge, Favona, Papatoetoe, Ōtāhuhu, Airport Oaks and Manukau, and plenty travel in from Central, West and North Auckland because we are easy to reach off the motorway with free parking at the door. Wherever you are in Auckland, if you are in pain, you are welcome to call.
Being right at the airport also means we are handy when you are on the move. We regularly help travellers who are flying in or out and get caught by a sudden toothache or a broken tooth, both domestic visitors and people arriving from overseas. We are minutes from the terminals, so if you have a flight to catch, tell us your timings when you book and we will do our best to work around them. This also makes us a practical option for fly-in patients from Great Barrier Island and the regions who plan their dental care around a trip to Auckland.
We are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, with Wednesday and Saturday by appointment, and we keep same-day emergency slots every clinic day. Sundays are often when a toothache decides to flare, so it helps to know we are here. The quickest way to be seen is to call or text 022 852 4000, or message us on WhatsApp on the same number, and you can also book yourself in online in about a minute. If you work in the airport precinct, bring your airport ID and there is a staff discount on treatment.
Costs, ACC, WINZ and free care for under 18s
Worrying about cost should not stop you getting help when you are in pain. If you are a new patient, your first exam is $79 and that includes digital X-rays, so we can see what is going on. You will always get a written quote before any treatment starts, so there are no surprises at reception.
If your problem came from an accident, such as a knock to the face, a fall, or a sports injury, treatment may be covered by ACC. This is easy to overlook, so ask us about it early. We are a registered ACC provider and we lodge the claim for you. If money is tight, Work and Income and MSD may help with a grant of up to $1,000 in any 52 week period for immediate and essential treatment, and our quotes for that are free. We also accept Afterpay and Southern Cross Easy-claim, so any balance can be spread out.
For younger patients, New Zealand has good free options. Children from birth to school Year 8 are cared for by the Community Oral Health Service, which you can reach on 0800 TALK TEETH (0800 825 583). Teenagers from school Year 9 until their 18th birthday can receive free basic dental care through the adolescent oral health scheme funded by Health New Zealand. If a child has hurt a tooth in an accident, ACC may cover it, and we are happy to help you find the right pathway.
Quick questions
- How fast can I be seen for a toothache?
- Often the same day. We keep emergency slots free every clinic day. Call or text 022 852 4000 as early in the day as you can and we will do our best to see you before we close.
- Should I go to the emergency department or a dentist?
- For spreading swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, a fever, or a facial injury, go to the emergency department, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116. For a painful tooth that needs fixing, a dentist is usually faster, and we can often see you the same day.
- I'm visiting Auckland or flying through. Can you see me today?
- Often, yes. We are minutes from the terminals with free parking at the door, and we help both local and international travellers with sudden toothache or a broken tooth. Call or text 022 852 4000 with your flight times and we will do our best to fit you in.
- Do you take ACC for a broken tooth?
- Yes. If the tooth was broken in an accident, treatment may be covered by ACC. We are a registered provider and we lodge the claim for you, so ask us about it early.
Sources: Health New Zealand, Te Whatu Ora, urgent and after-hours dental care guidance · Health New Zealand, Te Whatu Ora, Combined Dental Agreement and free oral health services for children and adolescents under 18 · Healthline New Zealand, 0800 611 116 · Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) · Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ), Ministry of Social Development · New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA). This article is general information, not a substitute for an examination and personal advice from a dentist. If you're in pain or unsure, book a visit or call 09 964 0508.
