Dental emergency advice

Toothache can have several causes. This guide explains what may be happening, what you can do safely while waiting, and when symptoms need urgent help.

A dental abscess is a pocket of infection that needs urgent dental treatment. This guide explains warning signs, what you can do while waiting, and when swelling becomes a medical emergency.

Facial swelling can come from a dental infection, injury or another medical cause. This guide explains dental warning signs, urgent next steps and when swelling needs 999 or A&E.

A broken tooth can range from a small chip to a painful fracture or dental injury. This guide explains safe immediate steps, urgent dental signs and when trauma needs 999 or A&E.

A knocked-out adult tooth is time-critical. This guide explains what a permanent tooth means, how to handle it safely, and when injuries need emergency medical help.

A knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back into the socket. This guide explains why, what to do next, and when a child needs urgent medical help.

A lost filling can leave a tooth sensitive or open to trapped food. This guide explains temporary steps, when dental care is urgent, and when symptoms need medical emergency help.

Wisdom tooth pain can come from a tooth partly coming through, trapped food, gum inflammation or infection. This guide explains safe steps today and when symptoms need urgent help.

Dry socket is painful inflammation of a tooth socket after an extraction. This guide explains typical symptoms, safe steps while waiting, and when to seek urgent dental care.

A loose or lost dental crown needs dental assessment. This guide explains how to reduce risk, when care is urgent, and why household glue is unsafe.

A broken filling can leave a tooth sharp, sensitive or open to trapped food. This guide explains short-term steps, urgent signs and what a dentist may do.

Some blood-stained saliva can happen after a tooth is removed, but active bleeding from the socket needs firm pressure and may need urgent assessment.

A tooth can become loose, displaced or tender after a knock or fall. This guide explains how to protect it and when injury signs need urgent help.

A broken brace, sharp wire or loose orthodontic part can irritate the mouth. This guide explains safer temporary steps, who to contact and when airway symptoms need emergency help.

A cracked, loose or broken denture can rub, cut, affect eating or create a choking risk. This guide explains safe temporary steps and when symptoms need urgent help.