Dental emergencies

This website is not for emergencies. In a medical emergency in the UAE, call 998 for an ambulance or 999 for the police.

Hospital or dentist?

Call 998, or go to a hospital emergency department, if there is:

• swelling of the face, jaw or neck that is spreading, especially with a high temperature;
• swelling around the eye, or any change in eyesight;
• difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking;
• difficulty opening the mouth, or a lot of swelling inside it;
• bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure;
• a blow to the head, a possible broken jaw, or any loss of consciousness.

These can be signs of a spreading infection or a serious injury, which are treated in hospital. Do not drive yourself; ask someone to take you, or call an ambulance.

See a dentist straight away for a knocked-out adult tooth, or a tooth that has been pushed out of place. A broken tooth, toothache or a lost filling needs a dentist soon, but is not usually an emergency.

A knocked-out adult tooth

An adult tooth that has been knocked out can often be saved if it is put back quickly. The sooner it goes back in its socket, the better its chances.

1. Find the tooth. Pick it up by the crown, the white part that normally shows in the mouth. Do not touch the root.

2. Rinse only if dirty. Rinse it briefly in milk or under cold running water. Do not scrub it, dry it or wrap it in tissue.

3. Put it back. Push it gently back into the socket, the right way round, even if the gum is bleeding. Hold it in place by biting on a clean cloth, handkerchief or gauze.

4. If it will not go back. Keep it moist: in a cup of milk, or in the mouth between the cheek and the gum if the person is old enough not to swallow it. A young child can instead spit into a small container, and the tooth can be kept in the saliva. Do not let the tooth dry out.

5. See a dentist straight away. Take the tooth with you. The dentist checks its position, usually splints it to the neighbouring teeth, and may take an X-ray.

A baby tooth is never put back, because it can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. A child who has lost a baby tooth in an accident should still see a dentist.

A broken or chipped tooth

A chipped or broken tooth is usually not an emergency, but it does need treatment. Look for the broken piece and keep it in milk or water, so that it does not dry out: the dentist may be able to bond it back. Rinse the mouth with warm water, and hold a cold compress against the face to ease swelling.

See a dentist soon. Go sooner if the break is large, if you can see a pink or red spot in the middle of the broken surface, or if the tooth is very painful, because the nerve may be exposed.

Toothache and facial swelling

Toothache can come from decay, a cracked tooth, a broken filling, gum disease, a wisdom tooth that is partly through, or a dental abscess, which is a collection of pus caused by infection. An abscess does not go away on its own and needs a dentist.

While waiting:

• take paracetamol or ibuprofen as directed on the pack (children under 16 should not take aspirin), and never put aspirin on the gum;
• adults can rinse with warm salt water;
• avoid food and drink that is very hot, very cold or sweet, and chew on the other side.

See a dentist if toothache lasts more than two days, does not ease with painkillers, or comes with a high temperature, pain on biting, a bad taste or a swollen cheek or jaw. If swelling spreads or any of the warning signs above appear, call 998.

Bleeding after a tooth is taken out

A little oozing after an extraction is expected, and saliva may look pink. If the socket is actively bleeding, fold a clean gauze pad or cloth, place it over the socket and bite on it firmly. Keep the pressure steady, without lifting the pad to look; the NHS advises pressing for at least 10 minutes. Sit upright, and avoid hot drinks, alcohol and smoking.

If the bleeding does not stop, contact the dentist who removed the tooth or seek urgent care. Heavy bleeding that pressure does not control needs a hospital. People who take medicines that thin the blood should tell their dentist before any extraction.

Lost fillings and crowns, stuck food and cuts

• A lost filling or crown. This is not usually an emergency. Keep the crown, avoid chewing on that side, keep the area clean, and see a dentist soon. Do not use household glue to refix it.
• Something stuck between the teeth. Try to ease it out gently with dental floss. Do not use a pin, a knife or anything sharp.
• Cuts to the lip, tongue or cheek. Rinse the area, then press on it with a clean cloth to control the bleeding, and hold a cold compress against it. A deep cut, or one that keeps bleeding, needs medical care.

A tooth that has been knocked out and replanted, or broken close to the nerve, may later need root canal treatment. Swelling at the back of the jaw is often linked to impacted wisdom teeth.