Toothache rarely waits for a convenient time. If it starts on a Friday night or a Saturday morning, it can feel like you have to put up with it until Monday. At Hornsby Dental we open on Saturdays from 8:30am to 4pm, and we keep time aside for people in pain.
Here’s how to tell whether your problem needs to be seen urgently, what you can do at home, and how to get a weekend appointment near Hornsby.
Saturday emergency appointments at Hornsby Dental
- Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 8:30am to 4pm. Closed Sunday.
- How to book: call (02) 8090 1100 as early as you can. Calling before 10am gives us the best chance of fitting you in the same day.
- Where: Suite 21/14 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby, about three minutes’ walk from Hornsby station. There is free street parking nearby.
We see patients from across the area, including Waitara, Asquith, Wahroonga, Normanhurst, Thornleigh and Mount Colah.
Does it need to be seen this weekend?
Try to be seen as soon as possible if you have:
- severe or throbbing toothache that stops you sleeping
- swelling in your gum, face or jaw
- a knocked-out, loose or pushed-in tooth
- a broken tooth, or a lost crown or filling that is painful
- bleeding after an extraction that doesn’t settle with firm pressure
Mild sensitivity, a small chip with no pain, or a lost filling that doesn’t hurt can usually wait for a weekday appointment. Keep the area clean and avoid chewing on that side.
Go to a hospital emergency department or call 000 if you have facial swelling that is spreading, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a high temperature with swelling, or a serious injury to your face or jaw.
What you can do at home until you’re seen
- Take over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the packet.
- Rinse with warm salty water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water).
- Use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek, 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off.
- Floss gently around the sore tooth in case food is trapped.
- Sleep with your head slightly raised if the pain throbs at night.
- Avoid heat packs on a swollen face, and don’t put aspirin directly on your gum.
For a knocked-out adult tooth, hold it by the crown, rinse it briefly in milk, and try to place it back in the socket or keep it in milk. Call us straight away, because time matters for saving it.
If we’re closed
On Sundays and after hours, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free advice from a registered nurse. Then call us when we open and we’ll do our best to see you that day.
What your appointment involves and costs
Your dentist will find the cause of the pain, usually with an x-ray, and focus first on getting you comfortable. Sometimes that means finishing treatment on the day. Sometimes it means a first step, such as dressing a tooth or starting root canal treatment, with a follow-up visit booked.
As a guide, extractions at Hornsby Dental range from $200 to $600, root canal treatment from $800 to $2,500, and tooth-coloured fillings from $170 to $550. Your dentist will explain your options and costs before starting. We claim on the spot with HICAPS for patients with extras cover. See our health fund page.
More help: what to do about a chipped or broken tooth, or read about our emergency dentist appointments in Hornsby.