Care
Urgent dental concerns
What to do about persistent toothache, swelling, a broken or knocked-out tooth, and the warning signs that need hospital care straight away.
Availability to be confirmed Clinical review pending
Illustrative content for family and clinician review. Service availability and the actual patient experience have not been confirmed. This page does not describe a treatment as available at the practice. A clinician decides what is suitable for each person, and individual costs and appointment schedules are not yet known.
Go to a hospital emergency department straight away if you have:
- difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking
- swelling in your face, mouth or neck that is severe or spreading quickly
- swelling around your eye, or changes in your vision
- difficulty opening your mouth
- a significant injury to your face or head
Don’t wait for a dental appointment, and don’t rely on this website to arrange care.
What it is
Some dental problems need prompt attention even when they aren't emergencies: toothache that won't settle, a swelling in the gum or face, a broken tooth, a lost filling or crown, or an injury to the teeth. This page gives general guidance on what to do and how quickly.
What to do
Toothache that lasts
See a dentist if toothache lasts more than two days, doesn't settle with painkillers, or comes with a high temperature, pain when biting, red gums or a bad taste in your mouth. Until then, soft food, avoiding very hot, cold or sugary things, and a pain reliever that is suitable for you can help.
Swelling in the gum or face
A painful swelling, especially with a bad taste, fever or swollen glands, can be a sign of a dental abscess. An abscess won't go away on its own and needs dental treatment, usually draining the infection and then treating the tooth, either with root canal treatment or by removing it.
A chipped, cracked or broken tooth
If a piece has broken off, keep it in milk or saliva and take it with you to a dentist. Avoid chewing on that side. Depending on the damage, a dentist may reattach the fragment, place a filling or crown, or, if the nerve is exposed, discuss root canal treatment.
A knocked-out adult tooth
Act quickly. Hold the tooth by the white part (the crown) and don't touch the root. If it's dirty, rinse it briefly in milk, saline or saliva, then try to put it back into the socket and bite gently on a clean cloth. If it won't go back, keep it in milk or saliva. See a dentist as soon as possible, ideally within an hour.
Don't put a baby tooth back in, as this can damage the adult tooth developing underneath.
A lost filling or crown
Keep the crown if you have it, avoid chewing on that side, and arrange to see a dentist.
What assessment may involve
A dentist will ask when the problem started and what makes it better or worse, examine the area and often take an X-ray to find the cause before recommending treatment.
Questions to ask a clinician
- What is causing the pain or swelling?
- Does this need treatment now, or can it be planned?
- What should I do if it gets worse before my next appointment?
- What are the options for fixing it?
Important to know. The practice has not confirmed whether it offers same-day, urgent or after-hours appointments. Please don't rely on this website to arrange urgent care.
Sources and review
Drafted from the sources below, which describe UK and US practice. Clinical review pending: a named clinician must review this page, including how the guidance applies under local requirements and practice, before it can appear on the clinic's official website.
- NHS: Toothache (page last reviewed 1 July 2024; checked 26 September 2026)
- NHS: Dental abscess (page last reviewed 18 March 2026; checked 26 September 2026)
- NHS: Knocked-out tooth (page last reviewed 6 February 2025; checked 26 September 2026)
- NHS: Chipped, broken or cracked tooth (page last reviewed 9 January 2025; checked 26 September 2026)