Dental pain has an unhelpful habit of striking on a Friday evening or in the middle of a bank holiday weekend, which is exactly when it feels hardest to get help. Knowing what actually counts as a dental emergency, and what you can safely do while you wait to be seen, makes a difference to both your comfort and, in some cases, whether a tooth can be saved. As an emergency dentist in Market Harborough, Brookside Dental is contactable around the clock, and this post covers what to do if you are dealing with sudden pain, a knocked out tooth, or a break that has caught you off guard.
Severe, unrelenting toothache that over the counter painkillers barely touch is one of the clearest signs something needs urgent attention, often pointing to infection or a badly decayed tooth. Swelling in the face or gum, particularly if it is spreading or affecting your ability to swallow or breathe, is a genuine emergency and should be treated as urgent. A tooth that has been knocked out entirely, one that is badly broken with the nerve exposed, or bleeding from the mouth that will not stop after gentle pressure all fall into the same category.
By contrast, a small chip that is not causing pain, mild sensitivity to cold, or a filling that has become slightly rough can usually wait for the next available routine appointment rather than needing to be seen the same day.
Time matters enormously here. If you can find the tooth, pick it up by the crown, not the root, avoid scrubbing it clean, and try gently reinserting it into the socket if possible. If that is not realistic, keep it in a small container of milk or between your cheek and gum, and get to a dentist as quickly as you can, ideally within an hour, since the chances of successfully saving the tooth drop sharply after that.
Over the counter pain relief such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, taken as directed, can help manage discomfort in the short term, and rinsing gently with warm salt water may ease irritation. Avoid very hot or cold food and drink on that side of your mouth, and contact us as soon as you can rather than waiting to see if it settles on its own.
Keep any broken pieces if you can find them, rinse your mouth gently with warm water, and cover any sharp edges with orthodontic wax or sugar free chewing gum if it is irritating your cheek or tongue while you wait to be seen.
Being a small, family run practice means enquiries by phone, email or social media are picked up quickly, and if it is a genuine emergency we do our best to get back to you and arrange an appointment as soon as possible, whatever the day or time. New adult patients being seen for an emergency appointment are charged £90, which includes two small X-rays, a full health check and a treatment plan if further work is needed.
We are also equipped to support nervous patients through emergency treatment, including safe IV sedation where appropriate, because dental anxiety on top of sudden pain is a genuinely difficult combination to deal with alone.
As well as patients in Market Harborough itself, we regularly see emergency cases from Corby, Kettering and Kibworth, and we also offer remote consultations by video call for anyone who wants initial advice on a problem before travelling in.
If you are dealing with dental pain, swelling or a broken tooth right now, contact Brookside Dental in Market Harborough directly rather than waiting it out; the sooner a problem is looked at, the more options we usually have to fix it simply.
Pick the tooth up by the crown rather than the root, avoid scrubbing it, and try to reinsert it gently into the socket if you can. If that is not possible, store it in milk and get to a dentist within an hour or two for the best chance of saving it.
An emergency appointment for a new adult patient at Brookside Dental costs £90, which includes two small X-rays, a full health check and a treatment plan if further treatment is needed.
We are contactable 24/7 by phone, email and social media, and as a small, family run practice we do our best to respond quickly and arrange an appointment as soon as possible for genuine emergencies.
Severe, unrelenting pain that basic painkillers do not control is generally a sign of infection or significant decay and should be treated as urgent. Milder sensitivity or discomfort can often wait for a routine appointment, though it is always worth contacting us if you are unsure.
Dental pain has an unhelpful habit of striking on a Friday evening or in the middle of a bank holiday weekend, which is exactly when it feels hardest to get help. Knowing what actually counts as a dental emergency, and what you can safely do while you wait to be seen, makes a difference to both your comfort and, in some cases, whether a tooth can be saved. As an emergency dentist in Market Harborough, Brookside Dental is contactable around the clock, and this post covers what to do if you are dealing with sudden pain, a knocked out tooth, or a break that has caught you off guard.
Severe, unrelenting toothache that over the counter painkillers barely touch is one of the clearest signs something needs urgent attention, often pointing to infection or a badly decayed tooth. Swelling in the face or gum, particularly if it is spreading or affecting your ability to swallow or breathe, is a genuine emergency and should be treated as urgent. A tooth that has been knocked out entirely, one that is badly broken with the nerve exposed, or bleeding from the mouth that will not stop after gentle pressure all fall into the same category.
By contrast, a small chip that is not causing pain, mild sensitivity to cold, or a filling that has become slightly rough can usually wait for the next available routine appointment rather than needing to be seen the same day.
Time matters enormously here. If you can find the tooth, pick it up by the crown, not the root, avoid scrubbing it clean, and try gently reinserting it into the socket if possible. If that is not realistic, keep it in a small container of milk or between your cheek and gum, and get to a dentist as quickly as you can, ideally within an hour, since the chances of successfully saving the tooth drop sharply after that.
Over the counter pain relief such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, taken as directed, can help manage discomfort in the short term, and rinsing gently with warm salt water may ease irritation. Avoid very hot or cold food and drink on that side of your mouth, and contact us as soon as you can rather than waiting to see if it settles on its own.
Keep any broken pieces if you can find them, rinse your mouth gently with warm water, and cover any sharp edges with orthodontic wax or sugar free chewing gum if it is irritating your cheek or tongue while you wait to be seen.
Being a small, family run practice means enquiries by phone, email or social media are picked up quickly, and if it is a genuine emergency we do our best to get back to you and arrange an appointment as soon as possible, whatever the day or time. New adult patients being seen for an emergency appointment are charged £90, which includes two small X-rays, a full health check and a treatment plan if further work is needed.
We are also equipped to support nervous patients through emergency treatment, including safe IV sedation where appropriate, because dental anxiety on top of sudden pain is a genuinely difficult combination to deal with alone.
As well as patients in Market Harborough itself, we regularly see emergency cases from Corby, Kettering and Kibworth, and we also offer remote consultations by video call for anyone who wants initial advice on a problem before travelling in.
If you are dealing with dental pain, swelling or a broken tooth right now, contact Brookside Dental in Market Harborough directly rather than waiting it out; the sooner a problem is looked at, the more options we usually have to fix it simply.
Pick the tooth up by the crown rather than the root, avoid scrubbing it, and try to reinsert it gently into the socket if you can. If that is not possible, store it in milk and get to a dentist within an hour or two for the best chance of saving it.
An emergency appointment for a new adult patient at Brookside Dental costs £90, which includes two small X-rays, a full health check and a treatment plan if further treatment is needed.
We are contactable 24/7 by phone, email and social media, and as a small, family run practice we do our best to respond quickly and arrange an appointment as soon as possible for genuine emergencies.
Severe, unrelenting pain that basic painkillers do not control is generally a sign of infection or significant decay and should be treated as urgent. Milder sensitivity or discomfort can often wait for a routine appointment, though it is always worth contacting us if you are unsure.
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