Dental emergencies never happen at a convenient time
It's a Saturday night. Or you're mid-dinner. Or it's 2am. Knowing what to do in the first 30 to 60 minutes can genuinely be the difference between saving a tooth and losing one permanently.
Knocked-out tooth
Pick the tooth up by the crown. Never touch the root. Rinse gently with milk or clean water. Try to reinsert it into the socket, or store it in milk. Call a dentist immediately. A tooth reimplanted within 30 minutes has the best chance.
Severe toothache
Take ibuprofen if not contraindicated. Don't put aspirin directly on the gum. Call the dentist first thing in the morning and flag it as an emergency.
Dental abscess
If swelling is spreading to your face, eye area or neck, go to hospital emergency now. Do not wait for a dentist appointment. Signs that need immediate care: facial swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, difficulty swallowing or breathing, fever above 38.5 degrees.
Broken or chipped tooth
Small chip with no pain: book within a few days. Large piece or sharp edge: see a dentist within 24 to 48 hours. Fracture with intense or lingering pain: same-day.
Lost filling or crown
Pharmacy dental cement (Dentemp) is a reasonable short-term fix. See a dentist within one to three days. Avoid chewing on that side in the meantime.
For more on this topic, read Dental emergencies after hours, on weekends and public holidays and Dental emergency overseas, what to do and what waits. To talk through your options, you can also read about general dentistry at Lumi Dental.
Same-day emergency care at Lumi Dental
Our emergency dental team at Melrose Central holds slots every day. Call first thing and we'll almost always get you in the same day. Open 7 days including weekends. Flag that it's an emergency when you call so we can triage you properly.
