General dentistry

Emergency dentist

We know that some dental emergencies just can’t wait, which is why our highly-experienced dental care team can offer you same day ability and out-of-hours care whenever disaster strikes.

Contact us

If you have a dental emergency*, you can call our 24-hour practice number on 01235 602101.
*Please note, if you are experiencing significant bleeding that won’t stop, severe pain that is not helped by painkillers, or significant facial trauma, call 111 or visit your local A&E department right away.

Common causes for emergency care

You should call us on 01235 602101 if you have experienced any of the following problems:

  • Lost a tooth
  • Cracked or fractured a tooth
  • A tooth has become loose
  • A tooth has been knocked out of alignment with other teeth (extruded)
  • Your teeth or mouth have been damaged in an accident
  • Pain in a tooth after an impact (whether there is any physical damage or not)
  • Wounded tissue of the lips, tongue, gums or cheeks (even if teeth are unaffected)
  • Serious infection or abscess in the mouth
  • Severe pain, swelling or bleeding following dental treatment such as a filling, implant or root canal
  • Lost a filling or crown

Patient Experience

Delivering first class experiences

Our team take pride in providing great care to ensure that your visit is as relaxing as it can be. We want you to feel at home in our warm and friendly clinic.

Patient Experience

Delivering first class experiences

Our team take pride in providing great care to ensure that your visit is as relaxing as it can be. We want you to feel at home in our warm and friendly clinic.

FAQs

What should I do if I’ve lost a tooth due to trauma or injury?
If you’ve lost an adult tooth, it’s extremely important that you get to an emergency dentist as soon as possible. The sooner you receive treatment, the more likely it is your dentist will be able to re-implant and save the tooth.

In the meantime, try to gently place the tooth back in its socket. Do not force it in if it does not slot back in on its own. If this is not possible, then you should keep the tooth in a glass of milk or saline solution until you can see us.

This is essential, as your tooth is made up of living matter which can dry up if left out in the open, making it impossible for your dentist to re-implant it.

Never place a lost tooth in water, tissue paper or cloth. In the worst-case scenario – if you can’t place the tooth back in its socket and have no milk or saline solution to hand – carefully store the tooth in your mouth between your tooth and gums until you can access urgent dental care.

Will I need an emergency tooth extraction?

There are a number of things that could mean you may need an emergency tooth extraction including abscesses, severe tooth decay, and root fractures. If a tooth is at increasing risk of an infection, it is very likely it will need to be removed.

Signs and symptoms that you may require an emergency extraction include:

  • Darkening or discoloration in your teeth
  • Extreme tooth sensitivity
  • Pain in your gums
  • A bad taste in your mouth that won’t go away
  • Swelling so bad it is difficult to open your mouth
  • White fluid or pus in your mouth
  • Wriggling, loose or unstable teeth
    Severe tooth pain
What can I do whilst waiting to see an emergency dentist?

While you’re waiting to see us, you can take the following steps to ease any pain you might be in: 

  • Take over-the-counter painkillers to lessen any dental pain. Take paracetamol rather than ibuprofen or aspirin, as these thin your blood and can make bleeding worse
  • Rinse your mouth with salt and hot water, as this disinfects your mouth and can provide temporary relief from pain. Simply dissolve one tablespoon of salt in a glass of pre-boiled water, allow it to cool a little, then rinse or gargle with it. This process helps to draw fluids out of your gums to reduce irritation
How common is dental phobia or anxiety?
Fear of the dentist is incredibly common, and it’s estimated to affect around a third of the UK population to varying levels. For many patients, dental phobia is disturbing but not disabling. Patients should discuss any anxiety when booking the appointment and with the dentist before any exam or treatment.