11th April 2023
How to get emergency dental treatment?
When to see an emergency dentist
Here at The Town House, we promote proactive, preventative dental care wherever possible. However, sometimes, regardless of how well you look after your teeth, a dental emergency can still occur.
In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at this area of dentistry – from clarifying what is classified as a dental emergency to explaining how to get emergency dental care when you need it.
So what is considered a tooth emergency? Potentially, you may have experienced dental pain or trauma but been unsure of whether this qualified as a dental emergency or not.
The team at The Town House will see you for an emergency dental appointment for the following reasons:
you are experiencing severe sensitivity or toothache
you have severe pain in your mouth, gums or tongue
you are experiencing bleeding and/or swelling in your mouth, gums or tongue
you have significantly chipped or broken a tooth or teeth
your tooth or teeth have been knocked out
you suspect you have an infection or abscess in your mouth and have a fever
you have received a facial injury and have significant swelling
It’s important to get in touch with a qualified dental professional, as soon as an emergency arises. Prompt treatment will ensure the best outcome for your recovery and healing.
At The Town House, we manage our bookings so that we are able to offer same-day appointments where required.
What is NOT considered a dental emergency
Sometimes it can be difficult to know how urgent your dental concern is and when to see an emergency dentist. The following issues are not considered to be dental emergencies:
mild tooth sensitivity – we recommend you switch to a sensitive toothpaste before making a regular, non-emergency appointment to see us
minor chips or cracks in the tooth – unless it is causing pain or difficulty in eating or speaking, you do not require emergency treatment
a loose or lost crown or filling – we recommend a regular appointment to address the issue promptly, but it’s not a dental emergency
lost or broken orthodontic fixtures, such as retainer or braces – unless it is causing pain, discomfort or difficulty eating or speaking
Generally, if you are not experiencing severe pain, swelling or bleeding – and all teeth are largely intact – it is not considered a dental emergency. Under these circumstances, it is usually fine to see a dentist during regular practice hours.
What can an emergency dentist do
Here’s what you can expect during an emergency dental service at The Town House Dental Practice:
Depending on the issue, we will aim to diagnose the underlying problem. We will examine you and may take x-rays as part of our assessment. Determining the cause of your tooth pain will help us to find an effective treatment plan.
We can provide pain relief if you’re in severe pain. Pain relief can be in the form of a local anaesthetic or oral medication.
We can begin treating a tooth infection. Treatment might include draining an abscess or prescribing a course of antibiotics.
With a chipped, cracked or broken tooth, we can repair and restore the look and function of your tooth, using dental bonding treatment.
If you’ve suffered facial trauma and knocked an adult tooth completely out, we can offer reinsertion and advice on how to re-secure your tooth. It is important to seek urgent attention for the best chance of saving a knocked-out tooth. In the meantime, rinse the tooth with running water and keep it moist until you can be seen by a dentist.
We can perform an emergency tooth extraction if required.
We can also refer you for further specialist dental or maxillofacial treatment, should this be required.
In general, we can alleviate the immediate pain and initiate a dental treatment plan to address the issue. Our experienced team can offer expert dental care for a range of different dental emergencies.
How to get emergency dental treatment
If you require an appointment for emergency dental care, call our friendly team on 01892 616062. If you require emergency treatment, you do not need to be a registered patient of The Town House Dental Practice in order to be seen by one of our dentists.
If your dental emergency is outside of our surgery hours – in the evening, at a weekend, or on a Bank Holiday – you can visit the Medway Community Healthcare Trust which provides NHS treatment through Dentaline. They can be contacted on 01634 890 300.
Reduce your risk of dental emergency
When it comes to good oral health, we strongly believe that prevention is better than cure. Here are some tips on avoiding a dental emergency:
We encourage our patients to make regular dental check-up appointments so that we can keep a close eye on their dental health. If we can detect the first signs of a problem, early on, we can prevent the issue from becoming more serious.
Book in for a hygienist appointment, to keep your teeth clean and healthy in-between check-ups.
It is vital that you take good care of your teeth and gums with regular and thorough cleaning. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily.
If you’re a contact sports player, we recommend that you wear a custom-fit mouthguard to protect your teeth from injury.
Avoid chewing on very sticky foods or hard objects as these can crack your teeth or lead to tooth decay.
If you start to experience discomfort in your teeth or gum sensitivity, remember that early intervention should be sought.
Can I get to A&E with a tooth problem?
If you are in severe pain, call 111 who will be able to direct you to would be the best option to help with your tooth emergency. The official advise from the NHS explains that you should only come to A&E if you are experiencing any of the following:
– If the area around your eye, neck or anywhere else on the face is swollen.
– If any swelling being experienced around is making it difficult for you to breathe, swallow or speak.
How do I get a emergency appointment if i’m not registered?
You don’t have to be an existing patient at The Town House to book an emergency dentist. For Tunbridge Wells you can book an emergency dentist appointment through our online booking portal or call our team on 01892 616062. For Brighton and Hove, call our team on 01892 616062 to book your appointment. In order to make any emergency appointments, contact details will be required to add you to our system along with a short description about your dental emergency. Please note that we may require a deposit to secure your appointment.
How to get emergency dental treatment in Tunbridge Wells or Brighton & Hove
Here at The Town House Dental Practice, we offer emergency dental treatment, whether you are a registered member of our practice or not.
If you experience a dental emergency, it is important to seek urgent professional care. To book an appointment with our dental team, please find nearest Town House Dental Practice.