What to do if you need an emergency dentist appointment

If you’ve never experienced a toothache, you’re very fortunate indeed. Toothache is truly excruciating and impossible to ignore. And this means sleepless nights and miserable days where you can’t focus on anything other than the pain in your head. In this situation you will need immediate dental attention from an emergency dentist. 

If you don’t do something about the problem immediately, the pain will get worse, so it’s best to make an emergency dentist appointment as soon as possible. In the meantime, the advice from the NHS website is to “take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen” to help you deal with the pain.

Not all dentists offer 24/7 treatments

Your first port of call for emergency dental care will always be your own dental practice. However, while they will be happy to make an urgent care appointment if you phone the surgery first thing, not all dentists provide an out-of-hours service. So if you get a tooth abscess or infection, or you chip a tooth or lose a crown on a Saturday morning, that means you’d have to wait two days to get it seen to. And as we said, if you’re lying awake at night because of the pain, you need emergency dental treatment now! That’s why we offer emergency dental care at any time of the day or night, including weekends and bank holidays. 

Conditions that may need emergency dental treatment 

Shattered or chipped teeth – Accidents happen and sometimes they result in damage to a tooth – and the damage is most likely to happen to a front tooth. This is not only going to be uncomfortable, it could also expose the nerve which will be extremely painful. And if it is a front tooth that’s damaged, you’re going to be extremely self-conscious about the way it looks. 

Lost crowns or veneers – If you lose a crown or a veneer, it could be uncomfortable or painful, making it a dental emergency. You’ll be worried about how it looks and would prefer to see a dentist for treatment as soon as possible. 

Tooth abscess and infections – A dental abscess is a buildup of pus in the tooth or in the gums. Abscesses can be very painful, and if they’re not treated, can lead to infections that cause swelling and redness, as well as a high temperature. The sooner you treat an abscess or infection the better. 

Toothache – If you have a painful toothache, make an emergency appointment as soon as possible. 

Gum-related issues – Gum health is vital for the health of your teeth, so if you have any problems with your gums, it is advisable to get them looked at by a dental professional as soon as possible. 

Problems with wisdom teeth – Wisdom teeth can be problematic and are often associated with discomfort and even pain. The best thing to do if yours are giving you trouble is to make a dental appointment as soon as you can.

Emergency dentist London 

If you live in, work in or are visiting London and are in need of emergency dental care, our dental team offers 24-hour emergency dental treatments. We understand that unexpected dental emergencies can cause financial difficulties which is why we can offer payment plan options and 0% finance to help you get back to your usual smiling self sooner rather than later. 

Call us on 020 7637 1672 (or 07528 696 946 if you are calling outside our regular opening hours of 9-6.30 Monday to Friday, or 10-4 on Saturday) for further information and to make an emergency dental appointment.