Dental emergencies tend to happen at the worst possible moment: late in the evening, in the middle of a football match or on the first day of a holiday. What you do in the first hour can decide whether a tooth is saved. Here is a simple guide to the most common situations, and how to tell when you need a dentist today and when you need a hospital instead.
First, check whether you need a hospital
Most dental problems are safely handled in a dental clinic. Go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department instead if:
- Swelling in the face or neck is spreading, or is starting to close the eye
- You have a fever together with facial swelling
- You find it hard to breathe, swallow or open your mouth
- There has been a head injury with dizziness, vomiting or loss of consciousness
- You suspect a broken jaw, or bleeding does not stop with firm pressure
These can be signs of a spreading infection or a serious injury. The hospital team will stabilise you first, and we can treat the tooth afterwards.
A knocked-out adult tooth
This is the most time-sensitive dental emergency. The cells on the root surface start to die within minutes once they dry out, so act quickly:
- Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown, the white part. Do not touch the root.
- If it is dirty, rinse it for a few seconds in milk or water. Do not scrub it or wrap it in tissue.
- If you can, push it gently back into the socket the right way round and bite on a clean cloth to hold it.
- If that is not possible, put it in a small cup of milk, or keep it between the cheek and gum if the person is an adult who will not swallow it.
- Get to a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes.
Never put a knocked-out baby tooth back in, as this can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Bring your child in anyway so we can check the area and the neighbouring teeth.
A broken or cracked tooth
Rinse your mouth with warm water and keep any pieces of tooth in milk or water, because a fragment can sometimes be bonded back on. If there is bleeding, press a piece of gauze on the area for ten minutes. Cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or orthodontic wax to protect your tongue. If you see a pink or red dot in the centre of the break, the nerve may be exposed, and you should be seen the same day.
Severe toothache and swelling
A throbbing toothache, especially one that keeps you awake or gets worse when you lie down, usually means the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed or infected. Until you can be seen:
- Take ibuprofen or paracetamol as directed on the pack, if they are safe for you
- Hold a cold compress against the cheek, ten minutes on and ten minutes off
- Rinse gently with warm salt water and sleep with your head raised
- Do not put aspirin directly on the gum, as it can burn the tissue
- Do not apply heat to a swollen face
Painkillers can hide an infection without curing it. Even if the pain settles, the cause usually needs treatment, often a root canal or, if the tooth cannot be saved, an extraction. Antibiotics on their own rarely solve a dental infection.
Lost crowns, fillings and brace problems
If a crown comes off, keep it safe and bring it with you, as it can often be cemented back. Do not glue it with household glue. A temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can hold it for a day or two. For a lost filling, a piece of sugar-free gum can cover the hole until your appointment. If a brace wire is poking your cheek, cover the end with orthodontic wax and contact your orthodontist.
What happens at an emergency appointment
At Veloradent we keep same-day emergency slots at both our Trade Centre and JLT clinics, seven days a week, and walk-ins are welcome. The emergency consultation, including an X-ray, starts from AED 300. We examine the area, find the cause and treat the urgent problem first, usually under local anaesthetic. Then we explain the options for lasting treatment and what they cost, so you can decide without pressure. Direct insurance billing is available at our Trade Centre clinic.
When you call or arrive, tell us what happened, when the pain or swelling started and which medicines you take, especially blood thinners. Bring any broken pieces of tooth, a crown that has come off and your insurance card. If the patient is a child, a favourite toy or a parent in the room helps them stay calm.
Prevention is simpler than any of the above: wear a mouthguard for contact sports, and keep up regular check-ups and cleans, so small problems are found before they start to hurt.
This article is general information and does not replace an examination. Your dentist will confirm what suits you.
