What to do in a dental emergency
A knocked-out tooth, a crack or sudden swelling can be frightening. Knowing the first steps can save the tooth, and a lot of pain.
Emergency care
4 min read
Dental emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. Staying calm and acting quickly makes a real difference to how easily we can fix the problem, and sometimes to whether the tooth can be saved.
A knocked-out adult tooth
Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline without scrubbing. Try to place it back in the socket, or keep it in milk or inside your cheek, and call us straight away. Time matters most here.
A chipped or broken tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water, save any pieces you can find and use a cold compress on your cheek for swelling. Over-the-counter pain relief can help while you wait, following the instructions on the pack.
When to go to the hospital
If swelling is spreading, you have a high temperature, or you’re finding it hard to breathe or swallow, go to the nearest emergency department or call emergency services. For everything else, call us first thing: we keep same-day slots open for urgent problems.
Reviewed by the Verdent clinical team
General information only — book a consultation for advice about your own teeth.
← Previous article