What should you do in a dental emergency?

A dental emergency can be a stressful and worrying time if you are unsure of how to react to the situation. We find that many of our patients are unsure of what they should do if they find themselves in an emergency involving their teeth and gums. 

Unfortunately, even though our teeth are one of the strongest parts of our body, they are not indestructible. The most common dental emergency happens as a result of trauma. For example, a tooth becomes fractured, cracked or lost from accidental impact. 

In this article, we will guide you through dental emergencies and how to calmly deal with them. 

What is considered to be a dental emergency?

Not all dental problems are considered to be an emergency. Finding a hole in one of your teeth can be worrying, but it isn’t deemed to be an emergency. An emergency is usually when something has happened with your teeth, gums, or soft tissues in the mouth that is causing your severe pain, bleeding, or there is a risk of losing a tooth. 

If your problem falls into the following list, then you should seek dental advice as soon as possible. 

  • Severe pain
  • Bleeding from the mouth
  • Lost tooth
  • Loose or wobbly tooth
  • Unusual swellings around the gums

Dental First Aid

While you wait to see a dental professional about your emergency, there are several ways you can control your problem at home. If you are in pain, you can manage this by taking painkillers. We also recommend rinsing your mouth with warm water and applying a cold compress to the outside of the mouth to reduce swelling.

If your tooth is broken or has fallen out, it is important to keep any parts of the tooth that you can. Rinse the tooth off with cold water, making sure to hold it by the crown. Place the tooth in a small container of milk, or salted water if milk isn’t available. Lost teeth have a much better chance of being saved if they are returned to the socket within an hour of being lost – so act fast!

To slow down bleeding, place a sterile gauze on the affected area and apply gentle pressure. Rinse the mouth out with salt water once the bleeding has slowed down.

Making an appointment

If you believe that your dental problem is an emergency, it is important to be seen by a dentist as soon as possible. At Regent Dental Centre, we have emergency appointments available every day for both registered and non-registered patients.


An emergency appointment for non-registered patients will cost £30.00 plus the cost of the necessary treatment.

Just call us on 0161 941 2143, and we will do our very best to fit you in the same day.

If your emergency happens during out-of-hours, you should call us on the same phone number, and our answer machine will guide you on what to do next.

Website last updated: March 2024

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