Dental pain or an injury can be worrying, particularly when you’re unsure how urgently you need treatment. Some problems need to be assessed by a dentist as soon as possible, while certain symptoms require emergency medical attention.
At Dartmoor Dental, we want patients to know where to turn. This guide explains when to contact a dentist, when NHS 111 can help and when you should call 999.
This information is intended as general guidance and cannot diagnose your individual condition. If you are concerned about your symptoms, seek professional advice.
Quick Answer: Who Should I Call Right Now?
Call 999 for a Life-Threatening Emergency
Call 999 or seek emergency medical care for serious facial or jaw injuries, heavy bleeding from the mouth that will not stop, or severe swelling affecting your mouth, lips, throat or neck alongside breathing difficulties.
Call an NHS Emergency Dentist for Urgent Dental Problems
Severe toothache, a knocked-out adult tooth, dental injuries, increasing swelling and problems following an extraction can all require urgent dental attention.
If you’re searching for an emergency dentist in Tavistock, our Rapid Rescue emergency dentist service is designed to help patients experiencing urgent dental pain or injury. Dartmoor Dental states that it will always do its best to see patients suffering from dental pain or injury within 24 hours.
Use NHS 111 When You Cannot Reach a Dentist.
If you require urgent dental care and cannot contact a dentist, NHS 111 can advise you on the appropriate service. NHS guidance recommends contacting a dentist for an urgent appointment or using NHS 111 for problems such as severe pain, dental injuries, swelling, and broken restorations.
Seven Dental Problems That Need Urgent Advice
Seek urgent dental advice if you experience:
Severe or persistent toothache affecting sleep or everyday activities.
Increasing swelling, particularly around the mouth, face or jaw.
A knocked-out adult tooth.
A badly broken or cracked tooth.
A lost or broken crown, filling, bridge, denture or veneer is causing problems.
Bleeding following an extraction that does not settle.
Significant dental trauma or an injury affecting your teeth.
These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have a serious condition, but they should be professionally assessed rather than self-diagnosed.
Severe Toothache: When It Cannot Wait
Toothache can have several causes, from decay to infection. NHS guidance advises seeking urgent care when severe tooth or mouth pain is affecting your sleep or daily activities and is not controlled by pain relief. Pain that responds to painkillers but does not go away also warrants dental advice.
Rather than trying to treat the cause yourself, arrange an assessment so a dentist can identify what is happening and recommend appropriate treatment.
Facial Swelling or a Dental Abscess
A suspected dental abscess emergency should not be ignored. Swelling, worsening pain, a bad taste or feeling generally unwell can indicate a dental infection that needs professional assessment.
Severe swelling becomes a medical emergency if it is affecting your breathing or swallowing. NHS guidance advises seeking emergency medical care if swelling in the mouth or neck makes it difficult to breathe, swallow, or speak.
Tooth Trauma: What to Do Immediately
When it comes to tooth trauma, acting quickly matters.
Pick the adult tooth up by the crown rather than the root. If it is dirty, gently rinse it, and if possible, place the tooth back into position. Never attempt to reinsert a baby tooth. If an adult tooth cannot be put back into position, keep it in milk and go straight to a dentist.
NHS guidance states that a knocked-out permanent tooth should receive emergency dental care as soon as possible.
Broken, Cracked or Lost Teeth and Fillings
A small chip without pain may not always require same-day treatment. However, a badly broken tooth, significant pain, or a lost restoration causing discomfort should be assessed promptly. If possible, keep any broken pieces of tooth and take them to your appointment, as tooth fragments can sometimes be reattached.
Bleeding After an Extraction or Dental Injury
Some bleeding following dental treatment can be expected, but bleeding that continues or cannot be controlled needs urgent attention. Heavy bleeding from the mouth that will not stop is considered a reason to seek emergency medical care.
What to Do While Waiting for Your Appointment
If you’re waiting to be seen, follow any instructions provided by the dental team. A pharmacist can also advise on appropriate over-the-counter pain relief, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, where suitable for you.
When contacting the practice, be ready to explain where the pain is, when it started, whether you have swelling or bleeding, whether an injury has occurred and any medication you are taking. This can help the team understand the urgency of your situation.
If dental treatment makes you particularly anxious, you can also learn about sedation for nervous patients at Dartmoor Dental.
What Happens at an Emergency Dental Appointment?
An emergency appointment focuses first on assessing the problem and getting you on the road to recovery. Your dentist will examine the affected area and determine the appropriate treatment.
Treatment will depend entirely on the cause of the problem, so an assessment is essential before recommendations can be made.
It can also help to know about the clinicians before you visit. If you’d like to learn more about us here at Dartmoor Dental, you can meet the dental team before your appointment.
Rapid Rescue Emergency Care at Dartmoor Dental
Dartmoor Dental's Rapid Rescue service is specifically designed for patients experiencing dental pain or injury. The practice aims to see patients suffering from urgent dental problems promptly and states that it will always do its best to see patients with dental pain or injury within 24 hours.
If you're wondering how much emergency dental treatment costs, fees can vary depending on the care required. Dartmoor Dental's current fee guide lists a Rapid Rescue urgent dental care appointment at £173 for registered patients and £210 for non-registered patients. Always check the latest fees when booking, as prices can change.
You can also contact us for advice.
FAQs About Dental Emergencies
Can NHS 111 Get Me an Emergency Dentist?
NHS 111 can provide advice and direct you towards appropriate urgent dental care when you cannot reach a dentist yourself.
Is a Dental Abscess an Emergency?
A suspected abscess requires prompt dental assessment. If swelling becomes severe or begins affecting your breathing or swallowing, seek emergency medical attention.
Should I Go to A&E With Toothache?
Most toothaches should be treated by a dentist rather than A&E. However, serious facial or jaw injuries, uncontrollable mouth bleeding and severe swelling associated with breathing difficulties require emergency medical care.
What if I'm Already a Dartmoor Dental Patient?
You can find further guidance through Dartmoor Dental's existing patient information or contact the practice directly if you have a dental emergency in Tavistock and need to book an emergency dentist appointment.
For more information about the practice and its wider range of services, visit the Dartmoor Dental homepage.
This article provides general information only and is not a diagnosis or substitute for individual clinical advice. Emergency and red-flag wording should be clinically reviewed by a named GDC-registered Dartmoor Dental dentist before publication.