Who should I contact in a dental emergency?

Contact your dental practice as soon as possible, as many offer same-day or urgent appointments. If the practice is closed, alternative urgent dental services may be available depending on the time and location.

When should I go to A&E instead of the dentist?

Go to A&E or call 999 if you have severe facial swelling affecting breathing, heavy bleeding that will not stop, serious facial injuries or signs of severe infection. Routine dental pain is usually best managed by a dentist.

How quickly can I be seen in an emergency?

Urgent dental problems are usually prioritised for same-day or next-day assessment, depending on severity. Availability can vary, so contacting the practice as early as possible is advised.

What can I do for toothache while I wait to be seen?

Appropriate over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may help, if suitable for you. Avoid very hot, cold or sweet foods and arrange a dental assessment as soon as possible.

What should I do if I have swelling in my face or gums?

Swelling can indicate infection and should be assessed promptly, especially if it is spreading or associated with fever or difficulty swallowing. Seek urgent dental advice immediately.

I have broken a tooth. Is this an emergency?

A broken tooth that is painful, sharp or associated with swelling or trauma is considered urgent and should be seen quickly. Minor chips without pain should still be checked but may not need immediate treatment.

What if a filling, crown or denture breaks or comes out?

This is usually urgent rather than life-threatening, but it is important to see a dentist promptly to prevent further damage. Temporary repair kits may help briefly but are not a substitute for professional care.

Can I get emergency help for braces or orthodontic problems?

Loose brackets or rubbing wires are usually urgent rather than true emergencies. Your orthodontic provider or dental practice can advise on managing discomfort and arranging review.

Will emergency treatment fix the problem completely?

Emergency care aims to manage immediate pain or infection. Further appointments are often needed to complete treatment such as root canal therapy, permanent fillings or crowns.

Do dental emergencies always need treatment straight away?

Some issues require immediate attention, while others can safely wait a short time. A dentist can assess urgency and advise the most appropriate timing for care.

EMERGENCY DENTAL TREATMENT

Emergency Dental Treatment in Milton Keynes

Q: What counts as a dental emergency?

A dental emergency usually involves severe pain, swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or a knocked-out adult tooth. Problems such as broken fillings without pain are often urgent but not immediately life-threatening.

Q: What should I do if I knock out an adult tooth?

Hold the tooth by the crown, gently rinse it if dirty and try to place it back into the socket if possible. If not, store it in milk or saliva and seek emergency dental care immediately, ideally within the hour.

Q: What if my child knocks out a baby tooth?

Do not try to put a baby tooth back into the socket, as this can damage the developing adult tooth. Contact a dentist urgently so your child’s mouth can be checked.

Q: Do emergency dental appointments cost more?

Fees vary depending on the treatment needed and whether care is provided privately or through urgent dental services. Your practice can explain likely costs before treatment begins.

Q: Can I be seen if I am not registered with the practice?

Many practices aim to help unregistered patients in emergencies, subject to availability. After urgent care, you may be advised to register for ongoing dental care.

Dental problems will not always time themselves to coincide with your next check-up, or during the convenience of the daytime.

At Oakgrove Dental, Milton Keynes we understand that dental emergencies can cause varying levels of pain and discomfort but we are here to help.

EMERGENCY DENTAL TREATMENT

Emergency Dental Treatment in Milton Keynes

Dental problems will not always time themselves to coincide with your next check-up, or during the convenience of the daytime.

At Oakgrove Dental, Milton Keynes we understand that dental emergencies can cause varying levels of pain and discomfort but we are here to help.

BOOKING A TREATMENT

Please use the form below for all of your dental treatments, check-ups and and dental hygiene appointments.

OPENING HOURS

Monday 8am – 7:30pm
Tuesday 8am – 7:30pm
Wednesday 8am – 7:30pm
Thursday 8am – 7:30pm
Friday 8am – 5pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

ADDRESS

Oakgrove Dental Practice

11 Atlas Way,

Milton Keynes

MK10 9SG

TEL 01908 771170

Enquiry About Emergency Dentistry

Oakgrove Dental Practice

Dental Emergency Appointments

We are here to help.

In case of a dental emergency during practice hours, please contact us as soon as possible on 01908 771170 We will do everything possible to see a patient in pain on the same day.

If you require emergency treatment outside surgery hours, please call us on 01908 771170 where you will hear a message detailing the specific arrangements that day.

Any dental emergency like an injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment later on.

If you have a dental emergency please call us as soon as possible on 01908 771170.

Dental Emergency Appointments

We are here to help.

In case of a dental emergency during practice hours, please contact us as soon as possible on 01908 771170. We will do everything possible to see a patient in pain on the same day.

If you require emergency treatment outside surgery hours, please call us on 01908 771170 where you will hear a message detailing the specific arrangements that day.

If you have a dental emergency please call us as soon as possible on 01908 771170.

IS THIS AN EMERGENCY?

What counts as a dental emergency?

A dental emergency is severe pain that painkillers will not touch, swelling of the face or gum, bleeding that will not stop, or an adult tooth knocked out or knocked loose. Those need same-day attention. A few signs need A&E or 999 rather than a dentist: swelling around your eye or neck, or any difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking. A lost filling, a crown that has come off, or a chip that does not hurt are all worth getting seen, but they can usually wait a day or two, so ring in the morning rather than out of hours.

When should I go to A&E or call 999 instead of seeing a dentist?

Go to A&E or call 999 if a dental problem brings swelling around your eye or neck, difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking, a lot of swelling inside your mouth, sudden trouble with your eyesight, or a jaw you cannot open. Do not drive yourself: ask someone to take you, or call 999, and bring any medicines you take with you. Ordinary toothache, a broken tooth or a lost filling are not A&E problems. A&E cannot carry out dental treatment, so you would wait a long time and still need a dentist afterwards.

Who should I contact, and how quickly can I be seen?

Ring the practice as early in the day as you can. Urgent cases are fitted into same-day or next-day appointments and those slots fill up, so ringing first thing gives you the best chance of being seen today. Have ready when the problem started, where it hurts, and whether there is any swelling, because that is what decides how quickly you are seen. If we are closed, check the answerphone message first, then call NHS 111 or use 111.nhs.uk, which runs 24 hours a day and can point you to an urgent dental service near you.

Do emergency dental appointments cost more?

An emergency appointment is from £55 if you are already registered with us, which is the same as a routine adult examination, and from £75 if you are not registered. That covers the assessment and the work needed to get you comfortable on the day. An X-ray, if one is needed, is £15. Anything further, such as a filling, root canal treatment or a crown, is quoted separately once the dentist has seen the tooth, and you will always have the figure before treatment starts. Prices may vary depending on location.

Can I be seen if I am not registered with the practice?

Yes. You can book an emergency appointment without being registered with us, and the fee is from £75, compared with from £55 for registered patients. You are welcome to register for ongoing care afterwards, but you do not have to in order to be seen. Bring a list of any medicines you take, and tell us about any medical conditions or allergies when you ring, because those affect which treatment and which anaesthetic can be used on the day. If you do decide to stay with us, a new patient examination is from £60.

What if I have a dental emergency while away from home in the UK?

Any dental practice in the UK can see you as an emergency patient, because urgent dental care does not depend on being registered anywhere. Ring local practices and ask for an emergency appointment, or call NHS 111, which can direct you to an urgent dental service wherever you are. Tell whoever sees you about your medicines and allergies, and about any treatment you are part-way through, such as root canal treatment or a crown being made, so that temporary work does not undo it. Ask what they did, and let us know when you are home.

FIRST AID: WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW

What should I do about toothache?

For toothache, take ibuprofen or paracetamol at the dose on the packet, rinse with warm salt water, and hold a cold compress against your cheek. Check with a pharmacist first if you are pregnant, asthmatic or have stomach trouble, as ibuprofen may not suit you. For the rinse, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and spit it out; children should not use it. Never hold aspirin against the gum, as it burns the tissue, and avoid flossing around the sore tooth. Book an appointment if the pain lasts more than two days, keeps you awake, or brings a high temperature, a bad taste or a swollen cheek.

What should I do about a dental abscess or facial swelling?

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus from infection around a tooth or in the gum, and it will not clear up on its own. It needs a dentist to drain it, so ring for a same-day appointment. Meanwhile take ibuprofen or paracetamol at the dose on the packet, eat soft food, and do not put heat on a facial swelling, as that can help it spread. Swollen neck glands, a high temperature or a bad taste mean today rather than tomorrow. Call 999 or go to A&E instead if you cannot breathe, speak or swallow properly, your eye is swollen or painful, or you cannot open your mouth.

I have pain and swelling around a wisdom tooth. What should I do?

Pain and swelling in the gum around a wisdom tooth is usually pericoronitis, an infection under the flap of gum that sits over a tooth which has only partly come through, where food and bacteria get trapped. Rinse with warm salt water, clean the area gently with a soft brush, take ibuprofen or paracetamol, and ring for a same-day appointment if your face is swollen. Book even if it settles by itself, because the flap is still there and it tends to come back worse each time. An X-ray, £15, shows how the tooth is sitting. Go to A&E if you cannot swallow or breathe properly, or you cannot open your mouth.

What should I do if something is stuck between my teeth?

To shift food stuck between your teeth, work floss gently down the side of the tooth and out towards the biting edge, rather than sawing it from side to side, which pushes the debris further in. Do not use a pin, needle or anything metal, because it cuts the gum and can scratch the tooth. If it will not shift, or the gum stays sore, swollen or tastes bad afterwards, get it looked at. Food that traps in the same gap again and again usually means a broken filling, a chipped edge or a cavity, and clearing it out will not stop it happening next time.

What should I do if I knock out an adult tooth?

A knocked-out adult tooth is the injury where minutes matter most. Pick it up by the crown, never the root, and rinse it briefly in milk or saliva if it is dirty, not water. Put it gently back into the socket the right way round, bite on a clean cloth to hold it, and get to a dentist straight away. If you cannot replant it, keep it in milk and never let it dry out, because most of the cells that let it reattach die within about 30 minutes of drying. If longer has already passed, still bring the tooth and be seen, as it can often be replanted anyway.

What if my child knocks out a baby tooth?

Do not put a baby tooth back into the socket. Replanting it can damage the adult tooth developing above it, which is why the advice is the opposite of a knocked-out adult tooth. Find the tooth if you can, so you know it has not been swallowed or breathed in, and if you cannot find it, say so when you ring: a knocked baby tooth is sometimes pushed up into the gum rather than out, and that needs checking. Press clean gauze on the gum to stop bleeding, give paracetamol or ibuprofen at the dose for their age, and ring us the same day even if your child seems fine.

What should I do if a tooth has been knocked loose?

A tooth knocked loose or out of line needs seeing the same day, because it usually has to be eased back into position and splinted to the teeth either side while the ligament holding it heals. Do not wiggle it or try to straighten it yourself. Keep it still, avoid biting on that side, stick to soft food, and hold a cold compress against your cheek. Paracetamol or ibuprofen will take the edge off. Left alone, a loose tooth often sets in the wrong position or loses its nerve later, so it is worth being seen quickly even if the pain settles.

What should I do about a chipped or broken tooth?

If a piece of tooth has broken off, keep it and put it in milk or saliva rather than rinsing it under the tap, because a dentist can sometimes bond the fragment straight back on. Rinse your own mouth with warm water, press clean gauze on any bleeding for about ten minutes, and hold a cold compress against the outside of your cheek. A broken tooth that is sharp, painful or swollen needs seeing the same day. A small painless chip can wait a few days, but do still get it checked, because a crack can reach the nerve later.

What should I do if I lose a filling?

A lost filling is not usually an emergency, but the inside of the tooth is now exposed, so aim to be seen within a week or two before decay or a crack sets in. Cover the hole with temporary dental cement from a pharmacy, and rub a sensitive-teeth toothpaste over the area to calm it down. Avoid chewing on that side and anything very hot, cold or sweet. Tell the dentist you used a temporary filling, because it hides what is underneath. Replacing it with a composite filling is from £150. Come sooner if the tooth starts to throb.

What should I do if a crown comes off?

Keep the crown in a pot rather than wrapped in a tissue, where it gets thrown away, and bring it with you, because a sound crown can often be cleaned and cemented back on. Never use superglue. It is not safe in the mouth, it can stick to your gum or lip, and it usually makes proper recementing impossible, which leaves a replacement crown from £695 as the only option. Pharmacy temporary cement is fine for a few days. Do not force the crown on if it will not seat easily, and keep the exposed stump clean, as it is softer than enamel and decays quickly.

What should I do if my braces, wires or bands break or come loose?

If a wire is poking your cheek, tongue or gum, try gently repositioning it with the eraser end of a pencil; if that’s not possible, cover it with orthodontic wax, a cotton ball or gauze until you can be seen, and never cut the wire, as you risk swallowing or inhaling it. If a bracket or band feels loose, orthodontic wax can help temporarily; save any loose band and contact your orthodontist or dental practice as soon as possible for a repair or replacement.

My denture has broken. Can I glue it back together?

Do not glue a broken denture. Superglue is not safe in the mouth, saliva dissolves it within days, and it sets along the break line so the pieces can no longer be matched up accurately, which often turns a straightforward repair into a whole new denture at £700 to £1,600. Keep every piece, including small chips, and put the denture in water so it does not dry out and warp. Stop wearing it if a sharp edge is cutting your gum. If it has snapped in the same place more than once, it is the fit that needs looking at, not just the crack.

DURING & AFTER YOUR VISIT

Will I be treated to get out of pain at the first visit, and will that fix the problem completely?

An emergency appointment is about getting you out of pain and controlling the infection, not finishing the job. That usually means draining an abscess, relieving the pressure inside a tooth, or placing a temporary dressing, and most people leave comfortable the same day. The permanent repair comes at a later visit, and the cost depends on what the tooth needs: a composite filling from £150, root canal treatment from £550, a ceramic crown from £695, or an extraction at £165 to £250. You will be given the figure before anything starts.

Can my GP prescribe antibiotics for toothache instead of seeing a dentist?

A GP cannot treat toothache, and NHS advice is not to go to one for it, because they cannot examine, X-ray or work on a tooth. Antibiotics do not fix the cause either: the infection sits in a dying nerve or a pocket of pus that has to be physically cleaned out or drained, so the pain usually comes back within days of finishing the course. Current guidance is that antibiotics are not needed for most dental pain where the infection is not spreading. A dentist removes the source with a filling, root canal treatment or an extraction, and prescribes antibiotics only when the infection is spreading.

My extraction site is still bleeding. What should I do?

Some oozing and blood-streaked saliva is normal for a day or two after an extraction. To stop active bleeding, dampen clean gauze or kitchen roll, place it directly over the socket and bite firmly for a timed 20 minutes without lifting it to check, as that restarts the clot. Sit upright rather than lying flat. Do not rinse, smoke, drink alcohol or use a straw for 24 hours, as all of those pull the clot out. If it is still bleeding heavily after an hour of pressure, ring us, or call NHS 111 if we are closed. Pain that suddenly worsens after a few days can mean the socket is infected.

STAYING CALM & PREVENTING FUTURE EMERGENCIES

What if I am very anxious about emergency treatment?

Say you are anxious when you ring, not when you sit down. A longer appointment can then be booked so nothing feels rushed, and the team knows before you arrive. Agree a stop signal at the start, usually raising your hand, which is honoured straight away: knowing you can pause at any point is what most anxious patients say makes the difference. Ask the dentist to talk you through each step, and bring someone with you if it helps. Above all, tell them if you can still feel the tooth after the anaesthetic, because more can be given or a different technique used.

How can I avoid dental emergencies in the future?

Most dental emergencies are the end of something that began quietly months earlier, so the best protection is keeping to the check-up interval your dentist recommends, while a crack or small cavity is still cheap to fix. An adult examination is from £55. If you play contact sport, wear a mouthguard: one moulded to your teeth by a dentist fits best, and a boil-and-bite from a sports shop is far better than none, though a loose guard shifts on impact. If you grind your teeth at night, a biteguard at £200 reduces the risk of cracks. And stop using your teeth as tools: opening packaging and chewing ice break cusps.