dental emergency

What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

You should contact a dentist urgently if you experience:

• Severe or persistent toothache
• Facial swelling
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop
• A knocked-out tooth
• A cracked or broken tooth causing pain
• Signs of infection (swelling, fever, bad taste in the mouth)

If you have swelling affecting your breathing or swallowing, attend A&E immediately or call 999.

1. Severe Toothache

Toothache is often caused by decay, infection or inflammation of the nerve.
What you can do:

• Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water
• Take over-the-counter pain relief (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen) as directed
• Avoid very hot, cold or sweet foods
• Contact us as soon as possible

Do not place aspirin directly onto the gum or tooth.
Persistent toothache rarely resolves on its own and usually requires professional treatment.

2. Knocked-Out Tooth (Adult Tooth)

Act quickly — time is critical.
What to do immediately:

1. Hold the tooth by the crown (the white part), not the root.
2. If dirty, rinse gently in milk or saline — do not scrub.
3. If possible, place it back into the socket and bite down gently on clean gauze.
4. If you cannot reinsert it, store the tooth in milk or inside your cheek.
5. Contact us immediately — ideally within 30–60 minutes.

The faster you are seen, the better the chance of saving the tooth.

(If it’s a baby tooth, do not attempt to reinsert it.)

3. Broken or Chipped Tooth

If a tooth breaks:

• Rinse your mouth with warm water
• Keep any fragments if possible
• Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
• Avoid chewing on that side
• Book an urgent appointment

Treatment may involve smoothing, bonding, a filling or a crown depending on the damage.

4. Lost Crown or Filling

If a crown or filling falls out:

• Keep the crown safe
• Avoid chewing on the affected side
• Temporary dental cement (from a pharmacy) may help until you’re seen
• Arrange an appointment promptly

Leaving it untreated can lead to further damage or infection.

5. Dental Abscess or Swelling

A dental abscess is a serious infection that requires urgent treatment.
Signs include:

• Swelling in the face or jaw
• Severe throbbing pain
• Fever
• Bad taste in the mouth

Contact us immediately. In severe cases involving difficulty breathing or swallowing, attend A&E.