Emergency Treatments

If you’ve been in an accident or have any sort of head injury, which has also resulted in the breaking or loss of teeth, please go to your nearest accident and emergency department for observation to ensure there are no serious problems.

A routine appointment can take a few days to organise but if you have a dental emergency you will need to be seen quickly. If you are otherwise well, but have experienced one of the below issues, you will require emergency treatment:

Tooth Knocked Out

If your tooth has been knocked out completely, your mouth may be bleeding and you will be in a lot of pain. You, or someone with you, will need retrieve your tooth or teeth and receive treatment from a dentist within the next hour if there is to be a chance of saving your tooth.

Tooth Loosened

You will need to see a dentist as soon as possible if your tooth is hanging in by thin threads of tissue or has been knocked out of position. Try and push the tooth back into position if you can
before you visit us.

Broken Tooth

If the broken tooth has been knocked out of position, or is sharp on the edge, you need to be seen immediately as the tooth could damage your tongue or lips. If the tooth is broken but there is no bleeding, it may be possible to wait to see a dentist during our daily emergency appointments.

Tooth Damage and Pain

If you have severe pain in your teeth following an accident that involves a blow to your mouth or jaw, there may be serious damage to your teeth, even if none are visibly missing or broken. You will need an emergency appointment, involving X-rays and further investigation.

Dental Bleeding

Damage to your teeth that causes bleeding is a dental emergency, particularly if it doesn’t stop within a few minutes.

Post Treatment Dental Emergency

If you’ve had dental treatment and have developed severe pain, swelling or bleeding within the last couple of days, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. We will assess your situation and provide emergency treatment to protect against tooth loss and infection.

Abscess

Abscesses happen if the tooth has died due to trauma, decay or for age related reasons and an infection occurs in the centre of the tooth causing an internal pressure and subsequent severe pain. Prompt treatment allows the pressure and pain to be minimised as quickly as possible.

Swelling

Swelling can occur if abscesses are not treated early enough or the infection has spread to the surrounding tissue, causing a local cellulitis. The area can often be red and sore, and the swelling must be controlled quickly before it affects your breathing, which can happen in some cases. If swelling is severe, antibiotic treatment is usually offered to control the swelling and then the offending tooth is treated.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth commonly appear in your mouth between the ages of 18 and 25 years. Trauma and infection can be caused if there is insufficient room in your mouth for the teeth to fit. Early treatment is advisable, however keeping the area as clean as possible and using a mouthwash will help prevent the problem.