In normal surgery hours

If you have a dental emergency during our normal opening times, please call the practice asap that morning and we will try to fit you in with an emergency appointment.

Outside opening times

If you need urgent dental treatment outside our normal hours, please call the dental emergency service on 111.

If you are in pain

If you have pain without facial swelling you can purchase painkillers from any chemist. Always take the advice of the pharmacist and ensure to inform them of any current medication or medical conditions eg. asthma, stomach ulcers that you may have. Avoid hot/cold/hard foods as this may make the pain severe. Contact your dentist for treatment.

Swollen Face

This usually is a sign that there is infection or an abscess. Contact your dentist for treatment. However if the swelling is severe or you feel sick, have a temperature or the swelling is affecting your swallowing or breathing, you must attend your local casualty department urgently.

Loose or dislodged crown

If the crown is at the back of your mouth leave it out and keep in a safe place until you attend your dentist.

Mouth bleeding after an extraction

If the socket is bleeding heavily or persistently you need urgent attention. Apply pressure to the socket with a clean gauze or handkerchief and attend the local casualty department.

Broken tooth

If the broken tooth is as a result of a fall and you are concerned about other injuries, go immediately to the hospital casualty department.

If the tooth is broken while eating or the result of a lost filling, it may be sensible to avoid food/drinks that make the discomfort worse. Contact your dentist for an appointment.

Tooth is knocked out - Children

These teeth start coming out naturally at about age 6 or 7. If one is knocked out earlier by accident - leave it out. Do not try and put it back as this may damage the adult tooth growing underneath. The adult tooth will grow eventually. Give some Paracetamol mixture (Calpol®, Disprol®, etc) or ibuprofen if the injured gum is sore.

Tooth is knocked out - Adult

These are commonly knocked out in older children and sometimes in adults. If one of these teeth is knocked out it is vital that:

• It be put back into its socket as soon as possible
• You see a dentist as soon as possible to secure the tooth
• An adult at the scene of the accident will usually be able to place the tooth back into its socket in the injured person's mouth.

Do not delay doing this. Do not wait to see a dentist.

If the tooth is clean, do it straight away and then seek dental help.

Hold the tooth by the crown (the white shiny part normally seen in the mouth) and not the root. The root has delicate cells needed to attach the tooth so try not to touch this part.

Take care to get the tooth the right way around.

Once back in, get the injured person to bite gently on a handkerchief until seen by a dentist.

A tooth may be knocked into some mud or dirt. Rinse the tooth in some cold water or milk. Do not scrub it or put it in disinfectant. This will damage the delicate cells on the root needed to attach the tooth back to the gum.

Why is it best put back straight away?

The cells at the root of the tooth will usually attach firmly back to the tooth socket if they do not die. These cells at the root of the tooth will soon dry out and die if the tooth is not put back quickly. If they die, the tooth will not attach again. The sooner a tooth is put back, the greater the chance of success..

What if the tooth cannot be put back in?

Put the tooth in a cup of milk or saline and see a dentist as soon as possible. The tooth must be kept moist. Milk is the ideal liquid to put the tooth in. Do not put the tooth in water as plain water damages the delicate cells whereas milk or saline are much better at preserving the cells. If milk or saline are not available, put the tooth in the injured person's mouth between their cheek and the gum. If the tooth is kept moist with any of these methods until it is put back in its socket there is a greater chance of permanent recovery. It may still be successful up to 24 hours after the accident.

If you cannot see a dentist immediately after the accident, go to the local casualty (accident and emergency) department.