A dental emergency refers to any urgent problem affecting your teeth, gums, or mouth that requires immediate attention to relieve pain, stop bleeding, or prevent further damage. Common dental emergencies include severe toothache, broken or knocked-out teeth, swelling, infections, or bleeding that does not stop. Acting quickly in these situations is important to protect your oral health and increase the chances of saving a damaged tooth.
Prompt treatment during a dental emergency can prevent complications and provide fast relief from discomfort. Your dentist will assess the issue, manage pain, and carry out the necessary treatment, whether it involves repairing a tooth, treating an infection, or addressing trauma. Seeking immediate care not only resolves the current problem but also helps avoid more serious and costly treatments later on.
A dental emergency includes severe tooth pain, swelling, bleeding, knocked-out or broken teeth, and infections that require immediate attention.
Try to place the tooth back in its socket if possible, or keep it in milk or saliva, and contact your dentist immediately. Acting quickly increases the chance of saving the tooth.
Hospital emergency departments can help with severe swelling or trauma, but most dental emergencies are best treated by a dentist as soon as possible.
You should seek dental care as soon as possible, ideally on the same day, to prevent complications and improve treatment outcomes.
Dentists focus on relieving pain, so treatment is usually carried out with appropriate anaesthesia to keep you comfortable.