Dental Emergency? Start Here

If you are in pain right now, you may not want to read an entire guide before knowing what to do.

Contact a dentist urgently if you have:

• Severe or persistent tooth or mouth pain
• Pain that is affecting your sleep or normal daily activities
• A dental abscess
• Increasing swelling in your mouth, gums, cheek or jaw
• A knocked-out adult tooth
• A badly broken or loose tooth
• A dental injury
• Severe pain or bleeding following a tooth extraction
• A broken or loose filling, crown, bridge, veneer or denture causing problems

Current NHS guidance recommends requesting an urgent or emergency dental appointment, or seeking advice from NHS 111, for problems including these.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you have:

• Serious injuries to your face or jaw
• Heavy bleeding from your mouth that will not stop
• Severe swelling of your mouth, lips, throat or neck that is making it difficult to breathe
• Severe swelling affecting your ability to open one or both eyes
• A head or facial injury that has caused loss of consciousness, vomiting or double vision

These are medical emergencies rather than ordinary dental emergencies.

If you are unsure what level of care you need, NHS 111 can help direct you to the appropriate service.

What Is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is a problem involving the teeth, gums, mouth or surrounding tissues that requires immediate or urgent professional assessment.

However, people often use the term “dental emergency” to describe several different levels of urgency.

Understanding the difference can help you decide what to do.

Emergency dental care

A small number of dental situations require extremely rapid treatment.

Examples include:

• A knocked-out permanent tooth
• Uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth
• Certain serious dental injuries
• Severe spreading dental infection

NHS England clinical guidance identifies uncontrolled intra-oral bleeding and avulsed permanent teeth as emergency dental needs, with permanent tooth reimplantation particularly time-sensitive.

Urgent dental care

Many problems commonly described as dental emergencies technically fall into this category.

Examples include:

• Severe toothache
• Dental abscesses
• Increasing swelling
• Broken teeth
• Significant dental trauma
• Wisdom tooth infection
• Severe pain following dental treatment

These problems may not be life-threatening, but they should not simply be left until your next routine check-up.

Medical emergencies involving the mouth or face

Some dental infections and injuries can become serious enough to require hospital care.

Severe swelling affecting your breathing, major facial trauma and uncontrollable bleeding should be treated as medical emergencies.

Non-urgent dental problems

Minor problems such as a very small painless chip or mild sensitivity without swelling or trauma may be suitable for a routine dental appointment.

If you are uncertain, contact a dentist rather than trying to diagnose the problem yourself.

What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

The urgency of a dental problem depends on your symptoms and the underlying cause.

This table is a general guide. A dentist or other healthcare professional needs to assess your individual symptoms.

Common Dental Emergencies and What to Do

Is Severe Toothache a Dental Emergency?

Severe or persistent toothache can require urgent dental treatment, especially when the pain is getting worse, interfering with sleep or daily life, or occurring alongside swelling or signs of infection.

Toothache can have several causes, including:

• Tooth decay
• A dental abscess
• Infection inside a tooth
• A cracked or broken tooth
• A loose or damaged filling
• Gum disease
• Problems around a wisdom tooth
• Inflammation inside the tooth

Pain does not always tell you exactly what is wrong.

A dentist may need to examine the tooth and take an X-ray before the cause can be confirmed.

When should toothache be assessed?

NHS guidance recommends seeing a dentist if toothache lasts for more than two days, does not settle with suitable pain relief, or occurs with symptoms such as fever, pain when biting, red gums, an unpleasant taste or cheek or jaw swelling.

Severe pain affecting your sleep or normal daily activities may require urgent dental care.

What can you do while waiting?

Suitable over-the-counter pain relief may help temporarily if you can safely take it.

A pharmacist can advise you if you are unsure which medicines are suitable for you.

Pain relief may make you more comfortable, but it does not treat the underlying cause of the toothache.

Is a Dental Abscess an Emergency?

Yes. A dental abscess needs urgent treatment from a dentist and will not normally disappear without treating the underlying problem.

A dental abscess is a collection of pus caused by infection in or around a tooth or gum.

Symptoms can include:

• Intense or throbbing toothache
• Gum pain
• A swollen face or jaw
• Redness
• Sensitivity to hot or cold
• Pain when chewing
• An unpleasant taste
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Swollen glands
• Fever
• Feeling generally unwell

The NHS advises people who think they have a dental abscess to request an urgent dental appointment or seek help from NHS 111.

Will a dental abscess go away on its own?

No. Sometimes an abscess may drain and the pressure or pain may temporarily reduce. That does not necessarily mean the infection or its underlying cause has gone away.

Dental treatment is still required.

Depending on the cause, treatment may involve:

• Draining the infection
• Root canal treatment
• Treating the affected gum
• Removing the tooth if it cannot be saved

When Does Dental Swelling Become Dangerous?

Dental swelling can range from a small area of inflamed gum to a severe spreading infection.

Localised swelling

Swelling around a tooth or small area of gum should be assessed by a dentist, particularly if it is painful or getting larger.

Facial or jaw swelling

Swelling involving the cheek or jaw can indicate that infection has spread beyond the tooth and needs urgent assessment.

Severe spreading swelling

Seek emergency medical help if swelling causes:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty speaking
• Significant difficulty opening your mouth
• Swelling around the eye
• Problems with your eyesight
• Significant swelling in the floor of your mouth

Current 2026 SDCEP guidance identifies significant trismus, floor-of-mouth swelling, difficulty breathing and difficulty swallowing among the red flags requiring emergency hospital transfer.

What Should You Do If a Tooth Is Knocked Out?

A knocked-out permanent tooth is one of the most time-sensitive dental emergencies.

If an adult tooth has been knocked out:

1. Find the tooth.
2. Hold it by the crown, which is the white part you normally see.
3. Do not touch the root.
4. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently in milk, saline or saliva.
5. Try to gently place the tooth back into the socket if it goes back easily.
6. If you cannot replace it, place the tooth in milk or saliva.
7. Contact a dentist immediately.

Do not scrub the root of the tooth.

NHS guidance says a knocked-out adult tooth should receive emergency dental care within one hour or as soon as possible.

What if it is a baby tooth?

Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back into the socket.

Doing so can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath.

Contact a dentist for advice.

Is a Broken Tooth a Dental Emergency?

It depends on how badly the tooth is damaged.

A tiny painless chip may not require emergency treatment.

A larger fracture may need urgent attention if:

• A significant amount of tooth has broken away
• The tooth is very painful
• The inner part of the tooth appears exposed
• The tooth is bleeding
• The tooth feels loose
• The damage followed significant trauma
• There is associated facial swelling

Depending on the extent of the damage, treatment may include:

• Composite repair
• A filling
• A crown
• Root canal treatment
• Extraction where the tooth cannot be restored

The dentist will need to assess the tooth before deciding which option is appropriate.

Is a Cracked Tooth an Emergency?

A cracked tooth may not be obvious.

Some cracks are difficult to see and symptoms can come and go.

Common signs include:

• Pain when biting
• Pain when releasing your bite
• Sensitivity to hot or cold
• Intermittent discomfort
• Pain that seems difficult to pinpoint

The treatment depends on the depth and position of the crack.

Options may include:

• A filling
• A crown
• Root canal treatment
• Extraction where the crack makes the tooth impossible to restore

If you think a tooth is cracked, avoid repeatedly chewing on it and arrange a dental assessment.

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?

A small painless chip does not usually require an emergency appointment.

You should seek dental advice sooner if:

• The tooth is painful
• The tooth has become sensitive
• A large piece has broken away
• There is a sharp edge cutting your tongue or cheek
• The damage followed significant trauma

If you find the broken fragment, keep it and take it with you to your appointment.

What Should You Do If a Filling Falls Out?

A lost filling can expose the underlying part of the tooth and cause sensitivity or discomfort.

Until you can see a dentist:

• Keep the area gently clean
• Avoid chewing hard foods on the affected side
• Avoid very hot or cold food if this triggers pain
• Contact a dentist for an assessment
• Ask a pharmacist for advice if you need temporary pain relief

NHS guidance specifically identifies lost or broken fillings as a reason to seek urgent dental advice when required.

A temporary repair may sometimes help protect the area, but the tooth still needs professional assessment.

What Should You Do If a Crown Falls Out?

If a crown comes off:

1. Keep the crown somewhere safe.
2. Avoid chewing hard or sticky food on that side.
3. Keep the exposed tooth clean.
4. Contact your dentist.

Do not permanently glue the crown back using household adhesive.

A crown may come loose because of:

• Failure of the cement
• Damage to the crown
• Decay beneath the restoration
• Changes to the underlying tooth
• Fracture

The dentist needs to assess the tooth before deciding whether the existing crown can be recemented or another treatment is required.

Is a Loose Adult Tooth an Emergency?

Adult teeth should not normally become loose.

Possible causes include:

• A blow or accident
• Gum disease
• Infection
• Damage to the tissues supporting the tooth

A tooth that becomes loose following trauma should be assessed urgently.

Avoid repeatedly moving the tooth with your tongue or fingers while waiting to be seen.

Can Wisdom Tooth Pain Be a Dental Emergency?

Yes. Problems can occur when a wisdom tooth only partially erupts through the gum.

The surrounding gum can become inflamed or infected, a condition known as pericoronitis.

Symptoms can include:

• Pain towards the back of the mouth
• Swollen gum
• An unpleasant taste
• Difficulty chewing
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Facial swelling
• Fever or feeling unwell

Seek dental advice if wisdom tooth pain is severe, persistent or accompanied by swelling or restricted mouth opening.

What Should You Do About Bleeding After a Tooth Extraction?

Some blood-stained saliva or mild oozing can occur after a tooth extraction.

Always follow the aftercare instructions given by the dentist who removed the tooth.

If active bleeding begins again, the practice may advise you to apply firm pressure using clean gauze.

Contact your dentist urgently if bleeding continues despite following their instructions.

The NHS advises seeking urgent dental care where bleeding continues following a recent extraction. Heavy mouth bleeding that will not stop may require A&E or 999.

What Should You Do After Dental Trauma?

Dental trauma can happen during:

• Contact sport
• Falls
• Road traffic accidents
• Work accidents
• Blows to the face

Possible injuries include:

• Chipped teeth
• Broken teeth
• Loose teeth
• Teeth pushed out of position
• Knocked-out teeth
• Cuts to the lips or gums
• Jaw injuries

If the injury appears limited to your teeth, contact a dentist urgently.

However, serious injuries to your face or jaw, or head injuries involving loss of consciousness, vomiting or double vision, require emergency medical assessment.

What Other Dental Problems Need Urgent Attention?

Not every urgent dental problem causes severe toothache.

The NHS also recommends seeking urgent dental advice for:

• A mouth lump or swelling that is getting bigger or is not going away
• A red or white patch in the mouth that persists
• A mouth ulcer that has lasted two weeks or more or is getting worse
• Broken or loose dentures
• Broken or loose bridges
• Broken or loose veneers

Persistent changes inside the mouth should not simply be ignored because they are painless.

When Should You See an Emergency Dentist?

You should contact a dentist urgently if you experience:

• Severe dental pain
• Pain that repeatedly wakes you at night
• Pain affecting your ability to eat or function normally
• A dental abscess
• Increasing gum, facial or jaw swelling
• A knocked-out permanent tooth
• Significant tooth damage
• A loose adult tooth following trauma
• Persistent bleeding following dental treatment
• Significant dental trauma
• Signs of spreading infection

You do not need to wait until the pain becomes unbearable.

Dental problems are often easier to manage when they are assessed before they become more advanced.

When Should You Go to A&E for a Dental Emergency?

Most toothache, dental abscesses, broken teeth and lost fillings should be treated by a dentist rather than A&E.

A hospital emergency department is appropriate when the dental problem has become a serious medical emergency.

Go to A&E or call 999 if you have:

• A serious injury to your face or jaw
• Heavy bleeding from your mouth that will not stop
• Severe swelling of your mouth, lips, throat or neck that is making breathing difficult
• Severe swelling affecting your ability to open one or both eyes
• A head or facial injury causing loss of consciousness
• Vomiting following a significant head or facial injury
• Double vision following facial or head trauma

These are the current NHS emergency criteria.

If you are unsure whether your symptoms require A&E, contact NHS 111.

When Should You Call NHS 111 for a Dental Emergency?

NHS 111 can help if you need urgent dental care and do not know where to access it.

You may find NHS 111 useful if:

• You do not have a regular dentist
• Your dentist is closed
• You cannot obtain an emergency appointment
• Your problem occurs outside normal opening hours
• You are unsure how urgently you need to be seen

NHS 111 can direct patients towards appropriate urgent services, including emergency dental services where available.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Can a GP Treat a Dental Emergency?

In most cases, a dental problem needs a dentist rather than a GP.

A GP cannot provide treatments such as:

• Fillings
• Dental drainage
• Root canal treatment
• Crown repair
• Dental extraction

For example, current NHS advice for a dental abscess specifically tells patients not to attend a GP surgery for dental treatment.

If you cannot access a dentist, contact NHS 111 for advice.

Can a Pharmacist Help With Toothache?

A pharmacist cannot fix the underlying dental problem, but they may be able to help you manage symptoms safely while you wait for an appointment.

The NHS recommends pharmacists as a source of advice about:

• Suitable pain relief
• Toothache
• Painful or swollen gums
• Short-term mouth problems
• Lost fillings
• Lost crowns

You will still need a dentist if the underlying problem requires dental treatment.

What Can You Do While Waiting for an Emergency Dentist?

What is appropriate depends on the type of dental emergency.

General measures that may help include:

Use suitable pain relief

Over-the-counter painkillers may help if they are safe for you to take.

Follow the instructions supplied with the medicine and speak to a pharmacist if you are unsure.

Eat softer foods

Try to avoid biting hard foods using the painful or damaged tooth.

Avoid temperature triggers

Very hot or very cold food and drink may worsen sensitivity.

Keep your mouth clean

Continue gentle oral hygiene where possible.

Use salt-water rinses where appropriate

The NHS suggests warm salt-water rinses as one possible way adults can temporarily ease toothache.

Children should not use a salt-water rinse if there is a risk they may swallow it.

Protect a damaged tooth

Avoid chewing on it and arrange assessment rather than repeatedly testing whether it still hurts.

Important

These measures are temporary.

They can help manage symptoms while you wait, but they do not diagnose or treat the cause of the emergency.

What Should You Never Do During a Dental Emergency?

Avoid attempting to treat serious dental problems yourself.

Do not:

• Ignore facial swelling that is getting worse
• Place aspirin directly against a tooth or gum
• Use household glue to repair a crown
• Attempt to pull out your own tooth
• Drill into a painful tooth
• Scrub the root of a knocked-out tooth
• Reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth
• Assume an infection has disappeared because the pain has reduced
• Assume antibiotics alone will repair the cause of dental infection
• Delay medical help where swelling is affecting your breathing

When in doubt, speak to a dentist or NHS 111.

What Happens at an Emergency Dental Appointment?

An emergency appointment is designed to identify the cause of the problem and determine what treatment is required.

The exact process depends on your symptoms, but it commonly involves the following.

1. Discussing the problem

The dental team may ask:

• When the symptoms began
• Where the pain is located
• Whether it is getting worse
• Whether you have swelling
• Whether there has been trauma
• Whether you feel generally unwell

2. Dental examination

The dentist will examine the affected tooth, gums and surrounding tissues.

3. Dental X-rays where required

An X-ray may help identify:

• Tooth decay
• Infection around the root
• Problems beneath a restoration
• The condition of the surrounding bone
• Some types of dental trauma

4. Diagnosis

The dentist should explain what they believe is causing the problem.

5. Treatment options

You will be told what can be done and whether further treatment is required.

6. Immediate treatment where appropriate

Some dental problems can be treated during the emergency appointment.

Others may first require the immediate problem to be stabilised, followed by another appointment.

What Treatments Can an Emergency Dentist Provide?

The treatment depends on the diagnosis.

Emergency dental treatment may include:

• Temporary fillings
• Permanent fillings
• Repairing broken teeth
• Recementing a crown
• Treating infection
• Draining an abscess where clinically appropriate
• Starting root canal treatment
• Extracting a tooth
• Stabilising an injured tooth
• Managing dental trauma
• Relieving the immediate cause of dental pain

Not every treatment can always be completed in one appointment.

Your dentist should explain:

• What they have found
• Which treatments are appropriate
• Whether further appointments are required
• The cost before additional private treatment proceeds

Can an Emergency Dentist Remove a Tooth on the Same Day?

Yes, it can sometimes be possible to remove a tooth during an emergency appointment, but same-day extraction cannot be guaranteed.

Before recommending extraction, the dentist needs to establish:

• What is causing the problem
• Whether the tooth can be saved
• Whether extraction is appropriate
• Whether an X-ray is required
• Whether there are any medical or clinical factors affecting treatment

If the tooth can reasonably be saved, another treatment such as root canal treatment or restoration may be preferable.

Where extraction is the appropriate treatment and there is sufficient clinical time, it may be possible during the emergency appointment.

For more information:  tooth extraction

Do You Need Antibiotics for a Dental Abscess or Tooth Infection?

Not every dental infection needs antibiotics.

This is one of the most important things for patients to understand about dental infections in 2026.

The SDCEP bacterial infection guidance was significantly updated in May 2026, with further clarification added in June 2026.

Current guidance recommends using dental treatment to address the source of bacterial infection in the first instance where possible.

For a dental abscess, this may involve:

• Draining the infection
• Treating the tooth through the root canal
• Removing the cause
• Extracting the tooth where appropriate

Antibiotics are generally required when there is spreading infection or systemic involvement, rather than being prescribed automatically for every dental abscess or toothache.

Why are antibiotics not always enough?

Antibiotics may help control certain infections, but they do not:

• Repair a decayed tooth
• Seal a cracked tooth
• Remove infected tissue from inside a tooth
• Drain every abscess
• Permanently solve the underlying dental problem

This is why antibiotics should not be viewed as a replacement for dental treatment.

Your dentist or another appropriately qualified prescriber will decide whether antibiotics are clinically appropriate.

Can a Dental Infection Become Serious?

Most dental infections can be treated effectively when addressed promptly.

However, an infection can occasionally spread beyond the tooth and surrounding gum.

Seek urgent professional advice for increasing swelling, fever or worsening symptoms.

Seek emergency hospital care for red flags including:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Significant restriction when opening the mouth
• Swelling in the floor of the mouth
• Rapidly spreading swelling
• Serious swelling involving the eye
• Signs of severe systemic illness

Current 2026 dental prescribing guidance specifically recommends emergency hospital transfer for serious spreading infections with these red-flag features.

Emergency Dental Treatment for Nervous Patients

A dental emergency can feel particularly stressful if you are already nervous about visiting the dentist.

Tell the dental team that you are anxious when booking.

Your emergency appointment should still involve:

• Explaining what is being examined
• Telling you whether an X-ray is required
• Explaining what the dentist has found
• Discussing your treatment options
• Explaining relevant costs
• Giving you the opportunity to ask questions
• Obtaining consent before treatment

At Oldbury Smile Spa, nervous patients are welcome.

The aim is to address the dental problem while helping you understand what is happening at each stage.

Dental Emergencies in Children

Children can experience many of the same dental emergencies as adults, including:

• Toothache
• Dental infection
• Broken teeth
• Chipped teeth
• Swelling
• Dental trauma
• Knocked-out teeth

However, knowing whether the injured tooth is a baby tooth or permanent tooth is important.

Knocked-out baby tooth

Do not put a knocked-out baby tooth back into its socket.

This could damage the permanent tooth developing underneath.

H4: Knocked-out permanent tooth

A knocked-out permanent tooth should be treated urgently.

Handle it by the crown and follow the instructions earlier in this guide.

If you are unsure whether the tooth is a baby tooth or a permanent tooth, contact a dentist for advice.

How Quickly Should a Dental Emergency Be Treated?

There is no single timeframe that applies to every dental problem.

The urgency depends on the symptoms and diagnosis.

Immediate medical emergency

Problems involving your airway, uncontrollable bleeding or major facial trauma may require 999 or A&E.

Emergency dental treatment

A knocked-out adult tooth should be treated as quickly as possible.

Current NHS guidance states that patients with a knocked-out adult tooth should be offered emergency dental care within one hour or as soon as possible.

Urgent dental treatment

For other urgent dental conditions, NHS guidance states that patients may be offered urgent treatment within 24 hours or seven days depending on symptoms.

This does not mean you should wait seven days before seeking help.

Contact a dentist when the problem occurs so that the appropriate urgency can be determined.

How Much Does an Emergency Dentist Cost?

Emergency dental costs depend on:

• Whether treatment is NHS or private
• The practice you attend
• Whether X-rays are required
• The diagnosis
• The treatment needed

Emergency dentist costs at Oldbury Smile Spa

Emergency dental appointment: £35

Your emergency appointment includes:

• Emergency dental assessment
• Necessary dental X-rays
• Diagnosis
• Initial treatment recommendations

Any additional treatment required will be explained and priced separately before proceeding.

For more information:  dental emergencies

Can You See an Emergency Dentist If You’re Not Registered?

Yes. You do not need to already be registered with Oldbury Smile Spa to request an emergency dental appointment.

Both new and existing patients can request urgent dental care, subject to appointment availability.

If you are experiencing severe toothache, swelling, a broken tooth or another urgent dental problem, contact the practice and explain your symptoms.

Can You Get a Same-Day Emergency Dentist Appointment?

Oldbury Smile Spa offers same-day emergency dental appointments where availability permits.

Because appointment availability can change throughout the day, it is sensible to contact the practice as early as possible if you need urgent help.

The dental team can discuss your symptoms and current appointment availability.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk of a Dental Emergency?

Not every dental emergency can be prevented.

Accidents happen.

However, some emergencies develop because an existing dental problem has been allowed to progress.

You can reduce your risk by:

• Attending regular dental examinations
• Treating dental decay early
• Maintaining good brushing and interdental cleaning
• Looking after your gum health
• Wearing an appropriate mouthguard for contact sports
• Avoiding chewing very hard objects
• Not using your teeth to open packaging
• Having damaged fillings and crowns assessed
• Seeking advice when new symptoms first appear

Early treatment will not prevent every dental emergency, but it can prevent some minor problems from becoming much more serious.

Dental Emergency Checklist

If you suddenly develop a dental problem, use this checklist.

1. Check for serious red flags

Look for:

• Severe swelling
• Difficulty breathing
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Serious facial injury
• Head injury symptoms

If these are present, emergency medical care may be required.

2. Contact a dentist

Describe:

• What happened
• How severe the pain is
• Whether there is swelling
• Whether the tooth has been damaged
• Whether you feel unwell

3. Protect any damaged tooth

Avoid chewing on it.

If an adult tooth has been knocked out, handle it by the crown and preserve it correctly.

4. Manage symptoms safely

Use suitable temporary pain relief where safe and seek advice from a pharmacist if required.

5. Do not attempt DIY dentistry

Avoid household glue, self-extraction or other invasive attempts at treatment.

6. Contact NHS 111 if necessary

Use NHS 111 if you cannot access urgent dental care or do not know which service you need.

7. Seek emergency medical help for red flags

Call 999 or attend A&E when the problem meets the serious medical emergency criteria described earlier in this guide.