Dental Emergency

We know how distressing, and often painful, a dental emergency can be, so we will always try to see you as soon as we can.

It is important not to ignore a dental emergency as it can lead to permanent damage or require more complicated treatment if not swiftly addressed. We will only arrange an emergency appointment if it is absolutely necessary, to help relieve pain or provide essential treatment.

Contact us today for an appointment

While you are waiting to receive our expert attention, the following tips may help:

Toothache – take painkillers regularly to help relieve the pain. You can use paracetamol or ibuprofen, but please remember to follow the instructions on the packet.

Lost filling – insert a temporary shop-bought dental filling material into the cavity or use sugar-free chewing gum.

Lost crown – if the crown is still intact, you can use an over-the-counter dental cement or sugar-free gum to stick it in place, but please don’t use superglue.
If your crown is broken, keep all the pieces and cover the cavity in the same way as a lost filling.

Chipped tooth – Keep the area as clean as possible by brushing thoroughly but gently until we can check and repair the damage. Some temporary filling material can be purchased from any pharmacy and placed in the damaged tooth if is sensitive.

Knocked out tooth – we will be much more likely to save the tooth if you see us quickly, so call us as soon as you can.
Hold the tooth carefully by the crown (the part that would normally be visible in your mouth) and rinse gently with water, being careful not to scrub or remove any little bits of tissue.
Try to put the tooth back in position, making sure it is the right way round. If this is not possible, then place it in some milk (or water containing a pinch of salt).

Lost baby tooth – this is not normally considered an emergency unless the gum is damaged or parts of the tooth are still embedded. Child-friendly painkillers can be given and while ice lollies may help relieve pain and swelling.

Never try to re-implant a baby tooth as it could damage the new adult tooth in the gum.

An abscess – rinse your mouth with warm, salty water and apply a cold compress to ease any swelling. If you experience intense pain and swelling, accompanied by flu-like symptoms, you should go to your nearest A&E department.