Dental Toothache

Disclaimer

These guidelines have been produced to guide clinical decision making for the medical, nursing and allied health staff of Perth Children’s Hospital. They are not strict protocols, and they do not replace the judgement of a senior clinician. Clinical common-sense should be applied at all times. These clinical guidelines should never be relied on as a substitute for proper assessment with respect to the particular circumstances of each case and the needs of each patient. Clinicians should also consider the local skill level available and their local area policies before following any guideline.

Read the full CAHS clinical disclaimer

Aim

To guide staff with the assessment and management of toothache.

To recognise and treat those patients who need immediate review because of significant pain and appropriate referral for those who do not need immediate review.

Background

Patients presenting with severe toothache associated with indicators of infection require expedient treatment. Indicators of infection include:

Gum swelling
Obvious abscess
Recent antibiotics for same problem
Woken from sleep by dental pain
Severe pain not relieved by simple analgesia
Recent unsuccessful attempt to manage the same problem
Pyrexia and/or malaise
Facial swelling.

All require expedient treatment, often involving antibiotic prescription and may require admission. The Dental Department or on‐call Dentist must be contacted for these cases. Refer to Dental Department (internal WA Health only).

Patients with intermittent toothache not associated with the above signs of acute infection should be referred to an appropriate dental provider for non‐emergency dental management. PCH has a tertiary medical risk dental clinic but does not offer a general dental service.

Please see Dental Services external to Perth Children’s Hospital for contact details of appropriate dental service providers.

Management

Child presents with toothache

Does the child present with indicators of infection?

Fever
Facial swelling
Gum swelling
Obvious abscess
Severe pain not relieved by simple analgesia
Woken from sleep by dental pain
Recent antibiotics for same problem
Recent unsuccessful attempt to manage same problem.

Yes	No
History and examination Contact dental department during office hours After hours contact on call dentist Analgesia Consider a KKIND (Keeping Kids in No Distress) e-referral if the child is to be admitted EMLA® NBM Consider OPG (discuss with ED consultant or dentist)	Provide appropriate analgesia Refer to the appropriate dental provider: Private General Dentist (Family Dentist) Specialist Paediatric Dentist School Dental Clinic Metropolitan Dental Clinic Oral Health Centre of WA

Endorsed by:	Nurse Co-Director, Surgical Services	Date:	Jul 2022
		Review date:	Jul 2025

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