Emergency Dentistry

What counts as a dental emergency?

If you’re not sure, call us — we would always rather hear from you. Situations we treat as urgent include a knocked-out, loosened or displaced tooth; a chipped or broken tooth; bleeding from the mouth that won’t settle; significant toothache; and facial swelling, which can signal infection. If your child has a serious head injury, was knocked out, is having trouble breathing or swallowing, or has swelling spreading towards the eye or neck, go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department first — teeth can be dealt with once your child is safe.

First aid before you reach us

What you do in the first hour can make a real difference. Our full guide to dental injury first aid walks through each situation, but the essentials are:

• Knocked-out baby tooth: do not put it back in — reimplanting a baby tooth can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Comfort your child, find the tooth if you can, and call us.
• Knocked-out adult (permanent) tooth: this is time-critical. Handle the tooth by the crown (the white part), not the root. If it’s dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline. If you can, gently place it back in the socket and have your child bite on a clean cloth; otherwise store it in milk (not water) and seek care immediately.
• Chipped or broken tooth: keep any fragments in milk and bring them with you — sometimes they can be bonded back.
• Toothache: rinse with warm water, use a cold compress on the cheek for swelling, and ask your pharmacist about age-appropriate pain relief. Don’t place aspirin or ointments directly on the gum.
• Swelling or suspected infection: seek care the same day. Dental infections can arise very quickly, often appearing overnight, and can be serious — they often need more than antibiotics alone to resolve.

Toothaches and infections

Just like adult teeth, baby teeth can be painful and develop toothaches — and young children often can’t put their pain into words. Signs to watch for include reluctance to eat or chew on one side, disturbed sleep, or a child holding or rubbing their face. Once pain is recognised, it’s important to address it quickly: we will always prioritise children in pain and offer the earliest available consultation possible.

What to expect at an emergency visit

We’ll begin by making your child comfortable and finding out exactly what has happened. An examination — and X-rays where needed — helps us understand the extent of any injury. We’ll then talk you through what we’ve found and the options, and agree on a plan together before any treatment. After emergency treatment of dental injuries, long-term management is often required, especially when permanent teeth are involved. We provide consistency of care as your child grows, as well as a smooth transition to other specialists if ever required.

Frequently asked questions

My child knocked out a baby tooth — should I put it back in?

No. A knocked-out baby tooth should never be put back in the socket, because doing so can damage the adult tooth forming underneath. Comfort your child, control any bleeding with a clean cloth, and contact us so we can check the area and the surrounding teeth.

How quickly does a knocked-out adult tooth need attention?

As fast as possible — ideally within the hour. The sooner a permanent tooth is reinserted, the better its outlook. Handle it by the crown, keep it moist in milk if you can’t reinsert it, and call us or seek urgent dental care straight away.

What if it happens after hours?

Call our practice number and follow the guidance provided. If your child has facial swelling with fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a significant head injury, don’t wait: go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Will my child need follow-up after a dental injury?

Often, yes. Injured teeth can change over months or even years, so we usually recommend review visits to monitor healing — especially where permanent teeth are involved. Your child’s clinician will recommend a follow-up schedule based on the injury.

Can a knocked-out or damaged baby tooth affect the adult tooth?

It can, which is why we like to check even injuries that seem minor. If a baby tooth is lost early, a space maintainer is sometimes recommended to hold room for the adult tooth — and our guide on extractions explains more.

Need urgent care?

Contact Tooth Town straight away — children in pain are always seen as a priority, and we will offer the earliest appointment we can.