Most dental problems can wait a few days. A small number cannot. Knowing the difference — and what to do in the first hour — often decides whether a tooth can be saved.
When it is a genuine emergency
Call the clinic the same day if you have:
- Severe, uncontrolled toothache
- A tooth that has been knocked out or badly displaced
- A broken tooth with exposed nerve or sharp edges cutting your tongue
- Facial swelling
- Bleeding that will not stop after an extraction
- A lost crown or filling that is causing pain
When to go to A&E instead
Some signs mean the problem has moved beyond the dental chair. Go to A&E or call 111 if you have:
- Swelling that is closing your eye or spreading down your neck
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- A high temperature with facial swelling
- Uncontrolled bleeding after a facial injury
- Trauma involving the jaw, with difficulty opening your mouth
These can indicate a spreading infection that needs urgent medical treatment, not a routine dental appointment.
A knocked-out adult tooth
This is the one situation where minutes matter most:
- Hold the tooth by the crown, never by the root
- Do not scrub it. If it is dirty, rinse briefly with milk or saline
- If possible, put it back in the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth to hold it
- If you cannot replace it, keep it in milk or saline — not water, which damages the root surface
- Call the clinic immediately and get there as fast as you can
Do not attempt to replant a baby tooth: it can damage the developing adult tooth underneath.
Severe toothache
Take ordinary painkillers according to the packet instructions. Do not put aspirin directly on the gum — it burns the tissue. Avoid very hot or cold food and drink, and keep the area clean. Toothache that wakes you at night or responds only briefly to painkillers usually indicates pulpitis, which often needs root canal treatment rather than another filling.
A broken tooth or lost filling
Keep any fragment, avoid chewing on that side, and use temporary dental cement from a pharmacy as a short-term cover if the edge is sharp. A lost filling is not usually painful once the initial sensitivity settles, but it does need replacing before the tooth fractures further. See dental fillings.
Facial swelling
Swelling suggests infection has spread beyond the tooth. Do not apply heat, and do not wait to see whether it settles. Contact the clinic the same day; if the swelling is affecting your eye, breathing or swallowing, go to A&E.
Bleeding after an extraction
Bite firmly on clean gauze for 20 minutes without checking. Avoid rinsing, smoking, hot drinks and exercise for the rest of the day. If bleeding continues heavily after two attempts, contact the clinic.
What an emergency appointment costs
At ēm dental, an emergency appointment is £75. Further treatment, if needed, is quoted separately. See our emergency dentist page for how to reach us and what to expect.
Reducing the risk
- Do not use your teeth to open packaging or bite nails
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sport
- Attend regular check-ups — most emergencies are the end of a problem that was visible earlier
- Keep the clinic number saved in your phone
Frequently asked questions
Can a tooth be saved after it has been knocked out?
Often yes, if it is replaced or stored correctly and treated quickly. The chances fall sharply with time and with dry storage.
Will I be seen the same day?
We try to accommodate urgent cases the same day wherever possible. Calling first allows the team to advise you and prepare for your arrival.
Can I take antibiotics instead of treatment?
Antibiotics do not fix a dental infection on their own. They may be prescribed alongside treatment in specific situations, but the source — decay, a dead nerve or a deep pocket — has to be dealt with.
Is a chipped tooth an emergency?
Usually not, unless it is painful, sharp or near the nerve. Cover a sharp edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum and book a routine appointment.
What if it happens at night or at the weekend?
Call the clinic line for guidance. For swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, go to A&E immediately.
This article is general information about dental treatment and is not a substitute for clinical advice. For advice about your own teeth, book a consultation at our W2 clinic.