Dental emergencies in Auckland
What needs to be seen today, first aid for a knocked-out tooth, and where to go in Auckland, by symptom.
Updated 10 October 2026
Auckland Dentists is an information site. We are not a dental practice, we have no after-hours service and no clinician to put you through to. This page points you at people who can help.
What dental problems need to be seen today?
Five things should not wait: swelling of the face, jaw or neck; a knocked-out adult tooth; bleeding that will not stop; trauma to the face; and severe pain that is getting worse. Facial swelling matters most, because a spreading dental infection can affect your airway.
- Swelling of the face, jaw or neck. The one that matters most. A spreading dental infection can affect your airway. Same-day assessment; emergency department if it is worsening quickly.
- A knocked-out adult tooth. The chance of saving it falls with every hour.
- Bleeding that will not stop. Including after an extraction, once you have bitten firmly on clean gauze for twenty minutes.
- Trauma to the face. From an accident, particularly with a suspected broken jaw.
- Severe pain that is getting worse. Or keeping you awake, especially with a fever.
What should I do if a tooth is knocked out?
Handle it by the crown, never the root, and if it is dirty rinse it briefly in milk or saline rather than scrubbing it. Put it gently back in the socket if you can, or keep it in milk, and get seen immediately. Never put a baby tooth back.
- Pick it up by the crown, the part you normally see, never the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline. Do not scrub it or use soap.
- If you can, place it gently back in the socket the right way round and hold it there by biting on a clean cloth.
- If you cannot, keep it in milk. Failing that, hold it in the side of your mouth. Not water, and not dry in a tissue.
- Get to a dentist or emergency department immediately.
This is first aid for the tooth, not treatment.
Where should I go for a dental emergency in Auckland?
It depends on the symptom. Call 111 if breathing or swallowing is affected or facial swelling is spreading quickly. Go to a hospital emergency department for facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding or facial trauma. For severe pain or a broken tooth without swelling, ring a dental practice offering urgent appointments.
| Situation | Where |
|---|---|
| Breathing or swallowing affected, rapid facial swelling | Call 111 |
| Not sure how urgent it is, any hour | Healthline, free, 0800 611 116 |
| Facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, facial trauma | Hospital emergency department |
| Severe pain, broken or knocked-out tooth, no swelling | A dental practice offering urgent appointments |
| Pain, 18 or over, with a Community Services Card | Health NZ relief-of-pain clinic, Greenlane or Buckland Road, booked on (09) 630 9809, $40 |
| Damage caused by an accident | A dental practice, and say it was an accident so ACC can be claimed |
Is there an emergency dentist at Auckland Hospital?
Not a walk-in one, and not for everyone. Health New Zealand’s Hospital and Specialist Dentistry service runs an emergency relief-of-pain clinic for adults aged 18 and over who hold a Community Services Card, at Greenlane Clinical Centre and the Buckland Road community dental clinic in Māngere East. It is booked, not walked into: the phone line on (09) 630 9809 opens at 8:30am Monday to Friday, appointments are usually for the next working day, and there is no service on public holidays. The fee is $40, paid on the day, which covers a consultation plus an x-ray and, if needed, a simple extraction of one tooth. The service does not provide routine dentistry to the public. Details read from Healthpoint on 28 September 2026; the listing was last updated 17 August 2026.
A hospital emergency department is a different thing. It treats facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding and trauma, and does not do fillings, root canals or extractions for toothache. Without a Community Services Card, and with pain but no swelling, the route is a private practice with urgent slots.
How do I find an Auckland dentist who will see me today?
Ring rather than email, say clearly that it is urgent, and describe the symptoms, particularly any swelling. Many Auckland practices keep same-day slots for urgent problems, including for people who are not existing patients, and some open extended hours. Then check whoever treats you holds a current practising certificate on the Dental Council register.
How much does an emergency dentist cost in Auckland?
At a private practice, a consultation for a specific problem had an Auckland median of $80 in the NZDA 2025 fee survey, with the middle half of practices charging $65 to $99. X-rays and any treatment are on top: a simple extraction had a median of $300. Some practices add a fee outside normal hours, so ask when you ring. If cost is the obstacle, Work and Income can contribute to emergency treatment for people on a low income, and ACC covers accidental damage. All Auckland dental costs.
Common questions
What counts as a dental emergency?
Severe or worsening pain, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, bleeding that will not stop, and swelling of the face, jaw or neck. Facial swelling matters most: a spreading dental infection can affect breathing and swallowing and needs to be seen the same day.
What do I do if a tooth is knocked out?
For an adult tooth, handle it by the crown, not the root, and if it is dirty rinse it briefly in milk or saline rather than scrubbing it. It can sometimes be put back in the socket and held there, or kept in milk, and seen urgently, because time matters a great deal. Do not put a child's baby tooth back. Get seen straight away.
Should I go to the hospital for a toothache?
Only if there is facial swelling, uncontrolled bleeding or trauma. Emergency departments treat those, but they do not do routine dental treatment such as fillings or root canals. For pain without swelling, an urgent appointment with a dental practice is the right route. With difficulty breathing or swallowing, go straight to an emergency department.
Who can I call at 2am about dental pain?
Healthline is free, staffed by registered nurses and answers at any hour on 0800 611 116. They can advise whether what you are describing needs to be seen immediately or can wait for a morning appointment. For breathing difficulty or severe facial swelling, call 111.
Is there an emergency dentist at Auckland Hospital?
Not a walk-in one. Health New Zealand's Hospital and Specialist Dentistry service runs an emergency relief-of-pain clinic for adults aged 18 and over who hold a Community Services Card, at Greenlane Clinical Centre and the Buckland Road clinic in Māngere East. Appointments are booked by phone on (09) 630 9809 from 8:30am Monday to Friday, usually for the next working day, and the fee is $40 on the day for a consultation plus an x-ray or a simple extraction of one tooth (Healthpoint, read 28 September 2026). It does not provide routine dentistry.
How much does an emergency dental appointment cost in Auckland?
At a private practice, a consultation for a specific problem had an Auckland median of $80 in the NZDA 2025 fee survey, before any x-ray (a single x-ray median $30) or treatment. A simple extraction had a median of $300. Some practices charge more outside normal hours; ask when you ring.
Does ACC cover an emergency caused by an accident?
It may, where a tooth was damaged by an accident such as a fall or a sports injury. Tell the dentist at the appointment that it was an accident and when it happened, so the claim can be lodged. Infection and decay are not accidents and are not covered.
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