Dental emergencies often occur when you least expect them, but fortunately, dentists are on hand to deal with unexpected accidents and injuries around the clock.

Examples of dental emergencies

Examples of issues, which may require urgent dental treatment include:

• severe dental pain
• broken tooth
• dislodged tooth
• dental abscess

If you have severe jaw pain, a jaw injury or facial injuries, these also require urgent treatment; however, it may be best to go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department, especially if you think you may have fractured the jaw.

What should I do if I’ve lost a tooth?

If you’ve had a tooth knocked out, it may be possible to save it. When you’ve located the missing tooth, hold it by the crown and gently wipe it clean and then try and re-implant it into the socket. If you can’t bring yourself to do this, place the tooth between the inside of the cheek and the gum or pop it in a glass of milk and call your dentist as quickly as possible. If you are able to see a dentist quickly, they will do their best to save the tooth for you. Always take care to avoid touching the tooth root, as the roots are very fragile.

When should I call a dentist for dental pain?

If you have toothache, this may be a sign of an underlying dental health issue and you should contact your dentist; if you have pain that is very severe, your pain is getting worse or you suddenly develop dental pain, call your dentist to make an emergency appointment. With dental injuries and problems, the longer you leave them, the worse they tend to get, so it’s always best to act quickly. If you’re not sure whether or not you need an urgent appointment, call the practice and they will be able to offer you advice.