Dental emergencies can happen to anyone, at any time, often when you least expect them. Whether it's a sudden crack while eating popcorn or a dull ache that wakes you up at 3 AM, knowing when to seek professional help is crucial. Ignoring dental pain or injury can lead to serious complications, including tooth loss, spreading infection, and expensive restorative treatments down the line.
At our Central London clinic, we see patients every day who waited too long, turning a simple fix into a complex procedure. To help you make the right decision, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the top 10 signs that indicate you need to see an emergency dentist immediately.
1. Severe, Unrelenting Toothache
Pain is your body's way of saying something is wrong. While a mild toothache might be caused by a piece of food stuck between your teeth, severe, throbbing pain is a red flag. If your toothache is keeping you awake at night, radiating to your jaw, ear, or neck, or if painkillers like Ibuprofen or Paracetamol are offering little to no relief, you have a dental emergency.
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This type of pain usually indicates that the nerve of the tooth is dying or infected (pulpitis). Without treatment, the infection will turn into an abscess. We can often relieve this pain in minutes with emergency extirpation (removing the nerve).
2. Swollen Jaw or Face
Facial swelling is one of the most dangerous symptoms in dentistry. It almost always indicates a dental abscess or a severe infection in the bone. If the swelling is visible on your cheek or jawline, the infection is spreading into the surrounding tissues.
Warning: If the swelling extends to your eye or down your neck, or if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, this is a life-threatening emergency. You must visit A&E or call 999. For localized swelling, call us immediately for drainage and antibiotics.
Meet Dr. Yasha Shirazi
Principal Dentist at Emergency Dentist London
"We treat hundreds of dental emergencies every month. The sooner you come in, the easier the fix usually is."
Book an appointment with our team →3. A Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Tooth
This is the "golden hour" scenario of dentistry. If an adult tooth is knocked out completely, there is a strict time limit for saving it. If you can see a dentist within 30 to 60 minutes, there is a high chance we can re-implant the tooth successfully.
What to do: Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), never the root. Rinse it gently with milk if it's dirty, but do not scrub it. Try to put it back in the socket. If you can't, keep it in a container of milk or your own saliva and run to the dentist.
4. Bleeding That Won't Stop
It is normal for gums to bleed slightly if you have gum disease, or for an extraction site to ooze for a short while. However, if you have had a tooth pulled or suffered a mouth injury and the bleeding fills your mouth or doesn't stop after 20 minutes of applying firm pressure with a gauze, you need emergency care.
Real Patient Result: Emergency Bonding
Uncontrolled bleeding can be dangerous. We have specialized agents and sutures (stitches) to stop bleeding instantly.
5. Loose Adult Teeth
Adult teeth should feel rock solid. If you notice a tooth feeling loose, wobbly, or moving when you touch it with your tongue, something is structurally wrong. This could be due to facial trauma (a sports injury or fall) or advanced periodontal (gum) disease where the bone supporting the tooth has been lost.
Prompt splinting can often save a loose tooth caused by trauma. If it's gum disease, early intervention is key to keeping your teeth.
6. Dental Abscess (Pimples on Gums)
Have you noticed a small, pimple-like bump on your gum? This is often a "fistula" or sinus tract. It means there is pus draining from an infection at the root of a tooth. You might notice a bad taste in your mouth or pus releasing when you press it.
Even if it doesn't hurt, the infection is eating away at your jawbone. It will not heal on its own and requires a root canal or extraction.
7. Extreme Sensitivity
Brief sensitivity to cold water is common. However, if you experience a sharp, shooting pain that lingers for minutes or hours after drinking something hot or cold, or if breathing in cold air makes you wince, you likely have a cracked tooth or exposed nerve.
8. Metal Taste in Your Mouth
If you have old metal (amalgam) fillings and suddenly taste metal or notice a loose feeling in the tooth, the filling may have cracked or fallen out. Loose fillings allow bacteria to seep underneath, causing rapid decay deep inside the tooth structure.
9. Locked Jaw or Popping Noises
If you wake up and cannot open your mouth wide (trismus), or if your jaw locks open or shut, this is a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) emergency. It can be incredibly painful and distressing. We can help manipulate the jaw back into place or prescribe muscle relaxants and splint therapy.
10. Broken Orthodontics
If you wear braces and a wire snaps, it can stab your cheek, gums, or tongue, causing ulcers and infection. While not always a threat to the tooth, the soft tissue trauma makes it an emergency. We can clip the wire or bond the bracket back in place to make you comfortable.
Don't Wait – Contact Us Today
If you recognize any of these signs, please do not "wait and see." Dental problems rarely resolve themselves; they only get more expensive and painful. Our team at Emergency Dentist London is here to help you. We offer same-day appointments, convenient evening hours, and compassionate care for nervous patients. Call us now at 020 3137 6356.