When something goes wrong with a tooth, the first question is usually whether it can wait until Monday. What counts as a dental emergency is worth knowing before you need the answer, because a few situations genuinely need attention within the hour, most need attention within a day or two, and a small number are not dental problems at all.
On this page
- Genuine dental emergencies
- Problems that need seeing promptly
- Things that can usually wait
- When it is a medical emergency, not a dental one
- What to do out of hours
- First aid while you wait
- What if I am not a patient here?
- The bottom line
Genuine dental emergencies
These need attention as quickly as possible, ideally the same day:
- A knocked-out adult tooth. The most time-critical of all. Minutes genuinely matter for the chances of saving it.
- Severe, unmanageable toothache that painkillers are not touching, or that is keeping you awake.
- Facial or gum swelling. Swelling means infection is spreading, and it does not negotiate.
- Uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth that will not settle with firm pressure.
- Dental trauma from an accident, particularly if teeth are displaced or the jaw feels wrong.
Problems that need seeing promptly
Not blue-lights urgent, but do not leave them a fortnight either:
- A broken or chipped tooth, even if it is not hurting. The exposed core picks up decay quickly and cracks tend to travel.
- A crown, filling or bridge that has come out, leaving the tooth beneath unprotected.
- A broken denture, particularly one with sharp edges.
- Pain when biting on a particular tooth, which often signals a crack or an infection developing.
- An ulcer or sore area that has not healed within three weeks.
Things that can usually wait
Mild, occasional sensitivity to cold. A small chip that is smooth and not catching. Food packing in one spot. A slightly rough edge. All worth mentioning at your next appointment, none worth an urgent one.
The honest rule I would give you is this: if it is frightening you or you cannot manage the pain, ring us. A two-minute phone call gets you a straight answer about urgency, which beats an evening of searching the internet.
When it is a medical emergency, not a dental one
Go straight to A&E, or call 999, if:
- Swelling is affecting your breathing, swallowing or vision
- You have significant facial trauma from an accident, or a suspected broken jaw
- Bleeding will not stop despite twenty minutes of firm pressure
- You have a fever and feel seriously unwell alongside dental swelling
These are uncommon, and the great majority of dental emergencies are painful rather than dangerous. But they are worth knowing cold, because these are the situations where an hour matters.
What to do out of hours
If urgent dental pain strikes at night or over a weekend, call NHS 111. They can advise you and direct you to urgent dental services in the area.
Then ring us first thing. Out-of-hours services stabilise emergencies; the tooth behind the trouble still needs treating properly afterwards, and that is where we pick things up.
First aid while you wait
Knocked-out adult tooth: hold it by the crown, never the root. Rinse briefly if dirty, do not scrub. Either gently push it back into the socket, or keep it in a container of milk, and come immediately.
A child’s baby tooth should never be pushed back in, as that can damage the adult tooth developing beneath. Just come straight in.
Broken tooth: keep any fragments, rinse gently with warm water, and call us.
Lost crown: keep it safe and resist all glue. Household adhesives ruin crowns and teeth alike.
Toothache: ordinary painkillers exactly as the packet directs, a cold compress against the cheek, and sleep with your head propped higher. Never place aspirin against the gum, an old remedy that burns the tissue and helps nothing.
The NHS guidance on urgent dental care covers the wider picture on where to turn.
What if I am not a patient here?
You are still welcome to ring. You do not need to be registered, and that applies equally to people new to the area, anyone whose previous practice has closed, and visitors on holiday in Clacton-on-Sea. One phone call is the whole process.
Our page on emergency dental treatment explains how it works, including for holidaymakers.
The bottom line
Knocked-out teeth, severe pain, swelling and uncontrolled bleeding are genuine emergencies. Broken teeth, lost crowns and biting pain need prompt attention rather than immediate. Swelling affecting breathing, swallowing or vision means A&E rather than the dentist.
If something has happened and you are unsure how urgent it is, ring us on 01255 422506 and we will tell you honestly. Our posts on healing after tooth extraction and whether antibiotics cure tooth infections cover two of the most common emergency outcomes.
This article is general information rather than personal dental advice. Every mouth is different, so please speak to your dentist about your own teeth.