Dental Emergencies Brighton

Dental emergencies can and do arise, and we endeavour to make sure you are seen by a dentist on the same day.

It is important not to ignore dental emergencies, as this can increase the risk of permanent damage, lead to further damage to your teeth or gums, and the need for more costly and extensive work at a later date. So what can you do until you can get to our clinic?

Listed below is a quick summary of how to treat common dental problems until you can get to our dental clinic:

Toothache as a dental emergency

Gently floss around the affected tooth, and rinse your mouth with warm water, just in case the pain is caused by trapped food dislodging the tooth. Use an ice pack to help reduce any facial swelling; this can also help relieve pain until you see a dentist. Don’t put aspirin directly on the tooth, as it could burn the gums.

Chipped tooth

Rinse your mouth with warm water, and if necessary apply clean gauze to stop any bleeding. A cold compress can help reduce swelling and relieve any pain.

If you have the broken piece, save the tooth fragment and bring it with you to the dentist, as it may be possible to reattach it.

Knocked out or partially knocked out tooth: traumatic dental injuries

If the tooth has been completely knocked out, carefully pick it up holding it by the crown. Rinse off any dirt, but avoid touching the tooth root and don’t attempt to remove any pieces of tissues attached to the tooth root.

If you feel confident, re-insert the tooth yourself, making sure it is facing the right way and hold it in position with a clean finger. Otherwise put the tooth into a container with a little milk or salty water and get to us as soon as you can. Tooth reinsertion is generally more successful if carried out within the first half hour to an hour after an accident.

If the tooth has been partially dislodged, come to see us straight away.

Lost filling or crown

You can try using a small piece of sugar-free chewing gum as a temporary filling, to protect the tooth. Save the dental crown, if possible, as we may be able to re-cement it. Over-the-counter dental kits have temporary cement that can be used until your appointment but please don’t use any type of ordinary glue or super glue.

Broken dental appliances

Please don’t try a do-it-yourself repair, especially with super glue as you could damage the appliance. Instead, bring it in to us so we can repair it for you.