Treatment

Emergency dental care

Some dental problems will not wait for an appointment. Severe pain, facial swelling, bleeding that will not stop, or a tooth knocked out in an accident all need to be seen quickly, and in the case of a knocked-out adult tooth, within the hour. Call ahead on 9841826173 rather than simply arriving, so the team can prepare rather than fit you into a queue. Facial swelling is the one to take most seriously. A dental abscess that has spread into the tissues of the face or under the jaw, particularly alongside difficulty swallowing, opening the mouth or breathing, is a medical emergency and needs a hospital rather than a dental chair. For everything else, the first priority at the appointment is getting you out of pain and controlling the infection. Definitive treatment can follow once you are comfortable.

Ask about this treatment Call 9841826173

Medically reviewed by Dr. Binaya Bhandari, Owner and Dental Surgeon, NMC 20701. Last updated 16 August 2026.

Woman holding her cheek in pain from severe toothache needing emergency dental care — Pain that keeps you awake is not something to wait out.

When do you need this treatment?

Pain severe enough to stop you sleeping or eating
Swelling of the face, jaw or under the eye
A tooth knocked out or pushed out of position
Bleeding that does not stop after an extraction or injury

What happens during your visit?

1Call 9841826173 first, describing what happened
2Come in. Pain relief and control of the infection or bleeding come first
3X-ray and diagnosis once you are comfortable
4Definitive treatment, either the same day or at a booked follow-up

What happens if you leave it untreated?

A dental infection does not resolve on its own and can spread into the tissues of the face and neck, at which point it becomes life-threatening rather than merely painful. A knocked-out adult tooth left dry for more than an hour usually cannot be successfully replanted.

What is recovery like?

Depends on what was done. Emergency treatment is often stabilisation rather than the final fix, so expect a follow-up appointment. Finish any antibiotics you are prescribed even once the pain stops, because pain settling is not the same as the infection clearing.

General guidance only. Your own recovery depends on your case, and the dentist treating you will tell you what to expect.

Questions you might have

Emergency Dental Care

My tooth was knocked out. What do I do right now?

Hold it by the crown, never the root. If it is dirty, rinse briefly in milk or saline, not water, and do not scrub it. Push it back into the socket if you can, or keep it in milk, and get to a dentist within the hour.

Is facial swelling from a tooth an emergency?

Yes. Swelling means the infection has spread beyond the tooth. If it is spreading towards the eye or under the jaw, or you have difficulty swallowing, opening your mouth or breathing, go to a hospital emergency department rather than waiting for a dental appointment.

Will painkillers or antibiotics fix a dental abscess?

No. They control symptoms and slow the infection, but an abscess is caused by something inside the tooth or gum that has to be physically treated, by root canal, drainage or extraction. Antibiotics alone reliably lead to the problem returning.

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