Same-day Dental Emergency Appointments Available
Mon to Sat: 9 am to 9 pm
Sun: 9 am to 7 pm
A dental emergency means you need emergency care for severe pain in your mouth. This can be caused by a number of factors such as infection and tooth decay. Common dental problems include hard tooth decay, dental abscesses, and extracted teeth.
Generally speaking, you should avoid going to A&E when experiencing a dental emergency. Doctors are not fully equipped to treat dental emergencies, so going to the hospital can end up being a very frustrating experience. You should only visit A&E if you have:
If the toothache lasts for more than two days, you should consult your dentist. You should also see a dentist immediately if you have a high fever, pain when biting, or swelling in your mouth. For the first two days, and/or if you are waiting for your immediate appointment, there are multiple things you can do to ease the pain. If you have toothache:
If you have a tooth extracted, do not panic, but make sure you see your dentist as soon as possible. When extracting a tooth, be sure to:
Contact Complete Smiles and see if you can get an emergency appointment. We offer emergency appointments for the same day or the next day. It is best to call ahead if you need to make an emergency appointment, as you may be treated as an outpatient or told to return at a different time. If for any reason, you are unable to get in touch with us you can call NHS 111, they should be able to advise you with emergency dental care in your area.
A dental abscess is usually caused by a bacterial infection and causes the formation of an abscess. When there is no way to get the pus out of the mouth, it becomes a toothache. If an abscess causes the nerves of your tooth to become infected, it can create a swelling inside your mouth that looks like an abscess; this can explode in the mouth. If it explodes, the pain in your mouth will be greatly reduced, but you still need to see a dentist. They will clear your abscess well and wash the infected area with saline to help reduce inflammation and keep it clean. You may also need further treatment to make sure you completely eliminate the infection. The dentist will advise you further after emergency dentistry treatment.
You should not try to extract a tooth yourself. You can cause permanent damage to your mouth. Regularly visit the dentist for advice if you have a concerning dental problem.
The dentist will always try their best to keep your natural tooth, as it means you can maintain the natural shape of your mouth. There is also a lower risk of infection if you keep the tooth compared to extracting it, and it also saves you the cost of having a replacement such as a dental implant or dental bridge
If you have significant swelling around your tooth, visit a dentist as soon as possible. If you need to relax before seeing a dentist, apply a cold compress or ice pack to the swollen area and take a painkiller for sale such as ibuprofen and paracetamol. With tooth decay, try rinsing your mouth with salt water, which can help remove clogged food and clean the area.
No, dental ulcers will not cure themselves. You will need to go to the dentist to treat the infection. You may also need antibiotics, depending on how widespread the infection is. Infections from abscesses can spread to your jaw or other parts of your neck, which is why it is important to see a dentist.