Emergencies

Some situations, such as a loose or crumbling filling or breaking a bracket or wire on a brace, need treatment but don’t require immediate care. Other situations are more urgent such as knocking out or loosening a tooth. If you knock out a tooth, urgent dental care could save it as there is a small chance, we can successfully reimplant the tooth within the first 30 minutes to an hour after the accident. Retrieve the tooth and rinse off any dirt, and you can try to reinsert the tooth, ensuring it faces the right way around and holding it in place with a clean finger or biting down gently on a clean tissue. You still need to come and see us immediately. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, store it in a small container with some saliva, milk or saline solution and bring it with you to your emergency appointment. Another situation that requires immediate care is a severe tooth infection that is causing facial swelling, fever and a feeling of being very unwell. In this case, you need emergency care immediately and should either come and see us or go to the nearest emergency room. Please don’t delay, as in rare cases, a severe tooth infection can be life-threatening.