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Yes. If you need emergency dental care and go to the Emergency Room ( ER ), the ER will treat you and then bill your health insurance. The ER is not likely to be able to treat a dental problem unless it is a health emergency . They may use temporary measures to relieve pain until you are able to see a dentist .
A dental urgent care facility commonly treats a patient who has knocked a tooth out of their mouth. A dentist can replace this tooth , as long as it is put back in the tooth socket within one or two hours.
If you need to see a dentist out of hours call a dentist : their voicemail may advise where to get out-of-hours treatment. call NHS 111 to find an out-of-hours dental service near you.
If you don’t have a dentist or can ‘t get an emergency appointment: call 111 – they can advise you what to do . find a dentist near you – ask if you can have an emergency appointment.
Self-care tips Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Gently floss to remove food or plaque between teeth . Apply a cold compress to your jaw or cheek. Take over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen. Try home remedies for toothaches like clove oil to numb the gums.
Walk-ins to an emergency room would be given antibiotics or pain medication and told to contact their dentist. Not only can they not pull teeth in an emergency room , it is illegal for anyone other than a dentist to perform an emergency tooth extraction, emergency root canal or any other dental care.
You SHOULD go to the emergency room if: You have swelling from a toothache that has spread to other parts of your face, especially your eye or below your jaw line. You have a toothache accompanied by a high fever (>101). You have bleeding that can ‘t be controlled with pressure (more on this below).
Dental Treatment in the Emergency Room The ER staff can get patients stabilized, control bleeding, and give treatment for dental fractures. In the case of bacterial infections , they can provide antibiotics and will arrange for transfer to the hospital if necessary.
Emergency room doctors can ‘t do much more than provide antibiotics and/or painkillers. This may provide temporary relief, but toothaches , like most problems, don’t fix themselves. You will still need to see a dentist to fix the problem.
Private dentists . They may accept referrals from other dentists who are trying to help someone who needs lots of oral treatments but can’t afford them. If you’ve been seeing a dentist for a long time and need help, be upfront about your financial situation and ask if you qualify.
In general, any dental problem that needs immediate treatment to stop bleeding, alleviate severe pain, or save a tooth is considered an emergency . This consideration also applies to severe infections that can be life-threatening. If you have any of these symptoms, you may be experiencing a dental emergency .
If you think you need urgent care, contact your usual dentist as some surgeries offer emergency dental slots and will provide care if clinically necessary. You can also contact NHS 111 , who can put you in touch with an urgent dental service.
Here are a few ways to dull your pain so you can get a good night’s sleep . Use over-the-counter pain medication. Keep your head elevated. Avoid eating acidic, cold, or hard foods right before bed . Rinse your teeth with mouthwash. Use an ice pack before bed .
With that said, ibuprofen is often particularly effective for dental pain. However, it’s in a category of medications called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), along with aspirin and naproxen, which thin the blood.
Anti-inflammatory analgesics such as Ibuprofen are the best for toothache as the pain is usually caused by swelling. If you can’t take them – if you are allergic to aspirin , for example – then paracetamol is the next best thing.