Restorative Dentistry

Emergency Dentist

A dental emergency is significant pain, swelling, bleeding, or a broken or displaced tooth — it generally shouldn’t wait for a routine checkup. Here’s safe first aid until you can be seen.

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At a glance

These need a hospital, not a dental visit

Facial swelling that's spreading fast, trouble breathing or swallowing, a high fever with swelling, or bleeding that won't stop — treat these as a medical emergency first.

A knocked-out tooth is time-critical

A permanent tooth has the best chance of being saved if it's replanted within about 30 to 60 minutes. Handle it only by the crown, never the root.

First aid isn't a fix

Pain relief, protecting a broken edge, and controlling bleeding are safe first-aid steps, but most dental emergencies still need in-person treatment to actually resolve.

Contact the practice to arrange a visit

If you're dealing with a dental emergency, the most useful next step is to contact the practice as soon as possible and explain your symptoms.

What counts as a dental emergency

A dental emergency is a problem that causes significant pain, swelling, bleeding, or a broken or displaced tooth, and generally shouldn’t wait for a routine checkup. It includes a severe or worsening toothache, visible facial or gum swelling, a cracked or knocked-out tooth, a lost filling or crown, persistent bleeding, or a dental abscess.

Not every dental problem is an emergency, but each of these needs prompt attention rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit.

First aid before your visit

Toothache

Rinse gently with warm salt water and take over-the-counter pain relief as directed. Avoid placing aspirin against the gum, and avoid very hot, cold, or sugary food and drink.

Dental abscess or swelling

A pocket of infection that can spread if untreated. Warm salt water rinses offer relief while arranging care — never try to drain it yourself.

Fractured or broken tooth

Rinse gently, keep any broken piece moist in milk, and cover a sharp edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your tongue.

Knocked-out adult tooth

A knocked-out permanent tooth has the best chance if replanted within 30 to 60 minutes. Handle it by the crown only, rinse gently, and keep it in milk if you can't reinsert it.

What treatment involves once you're seen

Examination

You're examined to identify the problem, confirm what's causing it, and decide how urgent treatment is before anything else happens.

Treating the immediate problem

A severe toothache may need a filling, or a root canal if the nerve is involved; an abscess is drained under controlled conditions, sometimes with antibiotics.

Temporary repair

A fractured tooth may get a temporary filling as an immediate fix, and a lost filling or crown is often reseated or refitted with a temporary material.

Definitive treatment follows

Temporary fillings and crowns protect the tooth and manage symptoms for a while — they're a bridge to the permanent restoration planned afterward.

Before you decide

Not sure whether this applies to your teeth?

The only way to know is an examination. Ask a question first if you would rather understand the options before booking anything.

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When to go to a hospital instead

Some situations go beyond what a dental visit alone addresses. Facial swelling that’s spreading rapidly, or affecting your breathing or swallowing, needs a hospital emergency department rather than — or alongside — a dental appointment. So does a high fever with dental swelling, major facial or jaw trauma with a head injury, or bleeding that won’t respond to steady pressure. If any of these apply, treat it as a medical emergency first.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

My filling or crown fell out — is that an emergency?

It depends on how it feels. A painful or very sensitive exposed tooth is worth being seen promptly; if it’s comfortable, still don’t leave it too long. A pharmacy dental cement offers a short-term fix, not a substitute for being seen.

My tooth got knocked out — can it be saved?

Sometimes, if you act quickly. Handle it only by the crown, never the root, and try to reinsert it into the socket, or keep it in milk if you can’t. The chance of saving it drops significantly after about 30 to 60 minutes.

Is a dental abscess urgent, and can I treat it myself?

It needs prompt evaluation — an abscess is a pocket of infection that can spread if left untreated, and fever alongside swelling is a warning sign. Warm salt water rinses offer some relief while you arrange to be seen, but never try to drain or lance it yourself.

How do I reach the practice for an urgent problem?

See the contact page for current ways to reach the practice, and explain your symptoms clearly so the visit can be arranged appropriately.

What shouldn't I do while waiting to be seen?

Don’t place aspirin against the gum or tooth — it doesn’t relieve dental pain that way and can burn the tissue. Don’t try to drain a swelling yourself, and avoid very hot, cold, or sugary food and drink, which often make pain worse.

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