What counts as a dental emergency?

Some dental problems can wait for a regular appointment; others need quick action to save the tooth or relieve severe pain. This guide covers the most common dental emergencies and what to do right away until you reach the clinic.

Go to a hospital emergency department immediately if there is swelling of the face or neck with difficulty swallowing or breathing, a high fever, bleeding that won't stop, or a serious injury to the face or jaw.

Dental emergencies and what to do

1. A permanent tooth knocked out

  • Hold the tooth by the crown (the white part); don't touch the root.
  • If it's dirty, rinse it gently with water or milk for a few seconds. Don't scrub it.
  • If you can, put it back in place gently and bite on gauze. If not, keep it in milk, or (for adults) in the mouth between cheek and teeth.
  • Come to the clinic immediately. The chance of saving the tooth is far higher within the first hour.
  • Note: a baby tooth should not be put back, but the child should be examined.

2. A broken tooth

  • Rinse with warm water and keep the broken piece if you have it.
  • Put a cold compress on the cheek if there is swelling.
  • See us as soon as possible. Small chips are usually repaired with composite bonding; larger breaks may need a crown or root canal treatment.

3. Severe toothache

  • Take a suitable painkiller as directed on the leaflet, and rinse with warm salt water.
  • Don't put aspirin on the gum.
  • Throbbing or night-time pain is often a sign of an inflamed nerve and needs a prompt check-up. Read tooth nerve pain vs gum pain.

4. Abscess or gum swelling

  • This is an infection that needs treatment; it won't go away on its own even if the pain eases.
  • Rinse with salt water, use a cold compress on the outside, and see us the same day if possible.
  • Don't try to drain the abscess yourself.

5. A lost filling or crown

  • Keep the crown, and don't glue it back with household glue.
  • Avoid chewing on that tooth and see us within a few days.

6. Bleeding after an extraction

  • Bite firmly on clean gauze for 30โ€“45 minutes without checking it every minute.
  • If heavy bleeding continues, contact the clinic. Read aftercare following an extraction.

7. Gum inflammation around a wisdom tooth

Pain and swelling behind the last molar, sometimes with difficulty opening the mouth. It needs cleaning and treatment at the clinic.

How to reach us urgently

Call +962 7 7535 3058 or message us on WhatsApp and describe the problem. We try to see severe pain and injuries as soon as possible during opening hours (Saturdayโ€“Thursday, 10 amโ€“6 pm).

Frequently asked questions

Can a knocked-out tooth be saved?

A permanent tooth often can, especially if it was put back or kept in milk and reached the clinic within an hour.

Are antibiotics enough to treat a tooth abscess?

No. They may calm the infection for a while, but the cause (the nerve or the gum) must be treated at the clinic, or it will come back.

What should I do if my child breaks a tooth?

Rinse their mouth gently, keep the piece if you have it, and contact the clinic. See children's dentistry.

Contact us

Dr. Banan Alhawamdeh's clinic, Sweifieh, Amman: +962 7 7535 3058.

Note: this article is for general education and doesn't replace a clinical examination. The right treatment is chosen after assessing your case at the clinic.