EMERGENCY CARE WITHOUT THE WAIT

A dental emergency is anything causing significant pain, swelling, bleeding, or trauma that needs urgent attention. This includes severe toothache, abscesses, broken or knocked-out teeth, and facial swelling that could indicate infection. If you're in pain or unsure whether your situation needs urgent care, call us and we'll advise you on the best course of action.

We do everything we can to see emergency patients on the same day. Our priority is getting you out of discomfort and addressing the problem before it gets worse.

Dental pain can have many causes, including tooth decay, infection or abscess, gum disease, cracked or fractured teeth, lost fillings, and trauma from injury. Sometimes pain can also come from sinus issues, jaw problems, or referred pain from other areas. During your emergency appointment, we'll diagnose the exact cause so we can treat it properly.

Over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen (taken as directed) can help manage discomfort until you see us. Avoid extremely hot or cold foods, stick to soft foods if chewing is painful, and keep the area clean by gently rinsing with warm salt water. If you have swelling, a cold compress on the outside of your face can provide relief.

If you experience severe pain, swelling, or trauma outside our opening hours, you can contact NHS 111 for urgent dental care advice. For life-threatening emergencies such as severe facial swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or significant trauma, go to A&E or call 999.

If an adult tooth is knocked out, time is critical. Call us immediately. Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), not the root, and if it's dirty, gently rinse it with milk or saline solution. The best chance of saving the tooth is to gently place it back into the socket if you can, or keep it moist by storing it in milk, saline, or even your saliva until you reach us. Get to us ASAP within 30 minutes if possible, as the sooner we can re-implant the tooth, the better the chance of it surviving. This is a true dental emergency, so call us straight away and we'll see you immediately.

If a baby tooth is knocked out, don't try to put it back in. Unlike adult teeth, baby teeth should never be re-implanted as this could damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Instead, gently clean the area if there's bleeding by rinsing with water, and apply gentle pressure with clean gauze if needed. Call us immediately so we can check that no fragments are left behind and ensure the area is healing properly.

Blood stained saliva is normal after an extraction. But if there is bleeding that won't stop, place a clean damp piece of gauze or a handkerchief over the socket and bite firmly. If there are no teeth to bite with then press and hold with your fingers. Maintain this while sitting upright for 20 minutes without disturbing or checking. Once the time has passed check, and repeat once if necessary. Once bleeding stops remain upright, rest, and do not drink alcohol. Do not disturb the blood clot in the socket - avoid rinsing and spitting. If the bleeding has not stopped please contact the clinic or see a doctor.