Long weekend notice. Pure Dentistry is open by appointment on Sunday 4 October 2026. We're open on most public holidays. Please call (07) 3343 4869 to check times for Monday 5 October (King's Birthday).
Swollen Face, Severe Toothache or a Broken Tooth on a Sunday in Brisbane? What to Do Now
This guide explains what to do now for facial swelling, severe toothache and a broken tooth, three common weekend dental emergencies. It also covers when to go to hospital instead, and how Sunday emergency dentist appointments work at Pure Dentistry in Upper Mount Gravatt.
- Yes, you can see a dentist on a Sunday in Brisbane. Pure Dentistry in Upper Mount Gravatt is open 7 days by appointment, and our phones are answered from 5am to 11pm.
- Call 000 or go to a hospital emergency department now if swelling makes it hard to breathe, speak, swallow or open your mouth. Do the same if swelling spreads to your eye or neck.
- See a dentist as soon as you can for gum or facial swelling, a toothache that pain relief doesn't control, or a broken tooth.
- Antibiotics alone don't fix a tooth infection. The cause is treated by draining the infection, root canal treatment or removing the tooth.
To book, call (07) 3343 4869 or book online.
This guide is for adults. For a child's dental problem on a weekend, call us to check availability. Go to a hospital emergency department if you notice any of the warning signs below.
When should you go to hospital instead of a dentist?
Go to the nearest emergency department, or call 000, if you have a toothache or dental swelling and any of the signs below.
- trouble breathing, speaking or swallowing
- swelling around your eye or neck, or a lot of swelling inside your mouth
- a swollen or painful eye, or sudden problems with your eyesight
- you can't open your mouth properly
- a fever and you feel very unwell, which can mean an infection is spreading
- heavy bleeding, or blood running down your throat, after an injury
Call 13 HEALTH to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.5
These signs can mean an infection is spreading or an injury is serious. Dental abscesses rarely become life-threatening, but swelling in the neck or mouth can block the airway.1,2,3,4
Can it wait until a weekday?
Use this table as a guide, not a diagnosis. If you're unsure, call us and we'll help you work out how soon you need to be seen.
| A quick guide to dental urgency | ||
|---|---|---|
| What you notice | What it can mean | How soon to get help |
| Swelling with trouble breathing, swallowing or opening your mouth, or swelling near your eye or neck | An infection that may be spreading | Now, at an emergency department or by calling 000 |
| Swelling in your gum, face or jaw, or a fever over 38°C with toothache | A dental abscess or infection | See a dentist as soon as you can, ideally the same day |
| Toothache that lasts more than 2 days, or that pain relief doesn't ease | An inflamed or infected nerve | See a dentist as soon as you can |
| A broken tooth with a pink or red spot showing | The nerve may be exposed | Straight away |
| Any other chipped, cracked or broken tooth | Damage that may need repair | Promptly, even if it doesn't hurt |
| An adult tooth knocked out | A time-critical injury | Straight away |
Based on healthdirect, NHS, Queensland Government and International Association of Dental Traumatology guidance.1,2,3,7,8
If an adult tooth is knocked out
Hold it by the crown (the white part), not the root, and don't scrub it. Put it back in the socket if you can, or keep it in milk (not water). See a dentist straight away, ideally within 30 minutes. If you can't reach one, go to a hospital emergency department. Never put a baby tooth back in.3,7,8,10
What should you do about facial swelling or a dental abscess?
See a dentist as soon as you can, because a dental abscess (tooth abscess) will not go away on its own. The dentist drains the infection and treats its cause, usually with root canal treatment or by removing the tooth.2,4
Antibiotics alone are not enough. They are used when an infection is spreading or you are unwell, but they don't remove the source of the infection.4,6,12,13
- hold a cold compress (ice wrapped in a cloth) against your cheek
- rest with your head raised on a pillow
- avoid very hot or very cold food and drink
Our dentists also advise against trying to squeeze or drain the swelling yourself.
Learn more about facial swelling and dental abscess treatment.
Is a severe toothache an emergency?
It can be. Severe, throbbing or lingering pain, or pain that keeps you awake, can mean the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed or infected.14,15,16
Signs to watch for
When the nerve can't recover, the main treatments are root canal treatment, which keeps the tooth, or removing the tooth.15
Toothache relief while you wait
For short-term dental pain in adults, the American Dental Association recommends anti-inflammatory pain relief, such as ibuprofen, as the first choice. It can be taken alone or with paracetamol.18 Ask a pharmacist or doctor which pain relief suits you.1 This matters most if you have other health conditions, are pregnant or take other medicines.
What should you do if you break or chip a tooth on a Sunday?
Have it checked by a dentist promptly, even if it doesn't hurt. If the nerve is exposed, you need treatment straight away.3,7
What to do now
- Find the broken piece. Keep it in milk or sterile saline and bring it with you, because it can sometimes be bonded back on.3,9,10
- Hold a cold compress against your cheek to ease pain and swelling.3
- Chew on the other side, and avoid very hot, cold or hard food.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief if you need it, as described above.
How the dentist repairs it
What the dentist does depends on how much tooth is lost and whether the nerve is affected.3,9,10
- bonding the broken piece back on
- rebuilding the tooth with a tooth-coloured filling or a crown
- root canal treatment if the pulp is damaged
- removing the tooth if it can't be saved
Read more about broken tooth restoration and chipped tooth repair.
A cracked tooth can be harder to spot
It often hurts when you bite down or let go, or with hot and cold food.11 See cracked tooth for more.
Should you have a root canal or an extraction?
It depends on whether enough healthy tooth is left to restore. Root canal treatment removes the inflamed or infected pulp (the soft inside of the tooth) and seals the tooth, so you can keep it. An extraction removes the tooth.15,17
How we help you decide
We look at how much healthy tooth is left to restore, the gum and bone around it, and your preferences and budget.
At a Sunday visit, we aim to relieve your pain and manage the infection first. Then we explain whether the tooth can be saved, the benefits and risks of each option, and what each costs, so you can decide. Read about emergency root canal treatment, or wisdom tooth extraction if a wisdom tooth is the cause.
What happens at a Sunday emergency appointment?
Sunday visits are by appointment. Here is how the visit runs, from your first call to treatment.
- Call or book
Phone (07) 3343 4869 between 5am and 11pm, or book online. Call early and we'll offer you the earliest available time.
- Examination
The dentist checks the tooth and takes an X-ray if one is needed.
- Diagnosis and options
We explain what is causing the problem and your treatment options.
- Written quote
A written quote can be provided before any procedure begins.
- Treatment
Where it is clinically appropriate and you've agreed to the plan, we can begin treatment at this appointment.
Feeling anxious?
Tell us when you book. Inhalation sedation may be available on the day, including weekends, subject to assessment. IV sedation and general anaesthesia are scheduled on weekdays, and we can help you plan that treatment if you need it. Read more about sedation options.
We're at Shop 11, 1932-1974 Logan Road, Upper Mount Gravatt QLD 4122, with free undercover parking. We're close to Wishart, Mansfield, Carindale, Eight Mile Plains and Sunnybank. For weekend details, see dentist open Sunday in Brisbane or our emergency dentist in Brisbane page.
How much does a Sunday emergency appointment cost?
On a Sunday, an adult examination costs from $160 in total, made up of the examination from $85 plus a $75 Sunday booking fee.
Ask when you book what any X-rays would cost. A written quote can be provided before any treatment begins, so you can decide first.
The cost of a root canal or an extraction depends on the tooth and what it needs, so we quote it after the examination. Private health fund claims can be processed on the spot, and other options are listed on our payment options page.
Need a dentist this Sunday?
Pure Dentistry in Upper Mount Gravatt is open 7 days by appointment. Our phones are answered from 5am to 11pm, so call and we'll find you the earliest available time.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pure Dentistry open on Sundays and public holidays?
Yes. Pure Dentistry in Upper Mount Gravatt is open on Sundays by appointment, and on most public holidays. Call (07) 3343 4869 between 5am and 11pm to ask for the earliest time, or see dentist open Sunday in Brisbane.
Can I get a tooth pulled on a Sunday?
An emergency tooth extraction may be possible on the day, if it's the right treatment and can be done safely in the time available. More complex cases may be booked for a later visit.
Can I get a root canal on a Sunday?
The first stage, which removes the inflamed or infected pulp, may be able to start on the day. Root canal treatment may take one appointment or several.15
Will antibiotics fix my tooth infection?
How long can a tooth infection go untreated?
My tooth broke but doesn't hurt. Is it an emergency?
What if I'm anxious about seeing a dentist?
Tell us when you book. Treatment is usually done with local anaesthetic to numb the area. Inhalation sedation may be available on weekends, subject to assessment, and we'll talk you through what to expect.
Who can I call for health advice in Queensland?
13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) connects you with a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In an emergency, call 000.5
References
All sources accessed 3 October 2026.
- healthdirect. Toothache and gum swelling. Reviewed February 2026.
- NHS. Dental abscess. Reviewed 18 March 2026.
- healthdirect. Dental injury. Reviewed February 2026.
- healthdirect. Tooth abscess. Reviewed June 2025.
- Queensland Government. 13 HEALTH: health advice over the phone. Updated 7 January 2020.
- Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme. Management of Acute Dental Problems: acute apical abscess.
- Queensland Government. Emergency dental. Updated March 2022.
- Fouad AF, et al. International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: 2. Avulsion of permanent teeth. Dental Traumatology. 2020;36(4):331-342.
- Bourguignon C, et al. International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines for the management of traumatic dental injuries: 1. Fractures and luxations. Dental Traumatology. 2020;36(4):314-330.
- Australian Dental Association. Dental trauma.
- American Association of Endodontists. Cracked teeth. Modified 10 June 2025.
- Lockhart PB, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline on antibiotic use for the urgent management of pulpal- and periapical-related dental pain and intraoral swelling. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2019;150(11):906-921.
- Australian Dental Association. 3 reasons you may not need antibiotics at the dentist.
- American Association of Endodontists. Tooth pain. Modified 30 July 2024.
- Australian Dental Association. Root canal treatment. 22 October 2023.
- American Association of Endodontists and European Society of Endodontology. Pulpal and pulp space diagnoses. 2025.
- American Association of Endodontists. Root canal vs extraction. Modified 23 May 2024.
- Carrasco-Labra A, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the pharmacologic management of acute dental pain in adolescents, adults, and older adults. Journal of the American Dental Association. 2024;155(2):102-117.
Written by the Pure Dentistry team and clinically reviewed by Dr Thomas Sakha-Pour, BDentHSc, MDent (Griffith), a dentist who works at Pure Dentistry. Pure Dentistry is a private dental practice in Upper Mount Gravatt, Brisbane. It provides the services described in this article and benefits when patients book with us. The article has no sponsors, advertisers or outside funding.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Please see your own dentist or doctor for advice about your situation. If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, call 000.
Published 3 October 2026. Last reviewed 3 October 2026. Next review due April 2027. © 2026 Pure Dentistry Pty Ltd.
