Frequently Asked Questions

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What counts as an emergency

1. What counts as a dental emergency?
   Severe toothache that painkillers will not touch, a knocked-out tooth, a broken or chipped tooth, a loose adult tooth, swelling in the face, jaw or gum, a lost filling or crown that is causing pain, an injury after a fall or accident, or bleeding that will not stop after 20 minutes of pressure. If any of those apply, please call us today.
2. My tooth is sore but I can manage — should I still call?
   If pain has built up over more than 48 hours, or you have noticed any swelling, please call. Toothache that gets worse, wakes you at night, or radiates to the ear or jaw usually means there is infection involved, and infection rarely settles on its own. Earlier is always cheaper and easier than later.
3. My face is swollen — is that serious?
   Yes. Facial swelling almost always means infection, and dental infections can spread. Please call us first thing, do not wait. If the swelling is around your eye or under your jaw, or you are having difficulty breathing or swallowing, please go straight to A&E — that is a 999 situation, not a dental one.
4. When should I go to A&E or call 999 instead?
   Call 999 or go to A&E if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling around your eye or throat, a suspected broken jaw, severe facial injury, or uncontrolled bleeding after a head injury. We can treat almost anything else — but the above are hospital emergencies, not dental ones.

First aid before you arrive

1. I have knocked a tooth out — what do I do right now?
   Time matters — call us first, then act in the next 30 minutes. Pick the tooth up by the white crown, never the root. If it is dirty, rinse it gently in milk or saliva (not tap water — water damages the root cells). Try to put it straight back in the socket and bite gently on a clean tissue or cloth to hold it. If you cannot, keep the tooth in a small cup of milk on your way to us. The faster we see you, the more likely we can save the tooth.
2. I have a broken or chipped tooth — what should I do?
   Save any pieces you can find, in milk if possible. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. If the tooth is sharp and cutting your tongue, you can cover it with sugar-free chewing gum or orthodontic wax until you reach us. Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain — at the dose stated on the packet. Avoid very hot or very cold drinks.
3. I have severe toothache. What can I do until I get to you?
   Take ibuprofen and paracetamol together at standard adult doses (alternating works well, if you are able to take both). Rinse with warm salt water. Avoid very hot or very cold drinks. Sleep with your head slightly raised — flat-lying often makes pain worse. Do not put aspirin directly on the gum. Call us first thing — toothache severe enough to need painkillers usually needs treatment, not just pain relief.
4. My filling or crown has fallen out. What now?
   Keep the piece if you can find it — sometimes we can re-cement a crown the same day. Avoid chewing on that side. If the exposed tooth is sensitive, sugar-free chewing gum or temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can protect it overnight. Call us as soon as we open.
5. My gum is bleeding and will not stop. What should I do?
   Bite firmly on a clean piece of gauze or a folded handkerchief for 20 minutes — do not keep checking it. Sit upright, not lying down. Avoid hot drinks, hot food, alcohol, and smoking for the rest of the day. If bleeding has not stopped after 20 minutes of firm pressure, call us. After a recent extraction, bleeding for a few hours is normal; persistent bleeding after the first day is not.

What happens at the appointment

1. What will happen when I arrive?
   You will be checked in at reception, taken straight through to a surgery, and seen by one of our dentists. We will examine the area and usually take an x-ray. Our priority at the first visit is to stabilise things — stop the pain, drain any infection, or temporarily protect the tooth. We then explain clearly what is happening and what the options are, including what each option will cost, before any further treatment.
2. How long will the appointment take?
   Plan for 30 to 45 minutes. The clinical part itself is often shorter, but emergency appointments include time for a proper conversation, x-rays, and a treatment plan. Complex cases may need a follow-up appointment to complete treatment.
3. Will you finish the treatment in one visit?
   Sometimes, yes. Often the first visit is about getting you out of pain and stabilising the tooth, with definitive treatment (such as a root canal, crown, or extraction) booked for a follow-up appointment within the next week or two. We will always tell you the full plan and the full cost before you leave.
4. Will I need an x-ray? Is that included?
   In most emergency cases, yes — without an image we are guessing. Any necessary x-rays are included in the £65 emergency consultation fee. There is no separate charge for emergency imaging.
5. Can I have sedation if I am very anxious?
   For genuine same-day emergencies, sedation is usually not arranged on the day — we focus on getting you out of pain quickly and gently. For follow-up treatment, intravenous sedation is available with our specialist anaesthetist. Tell us when you call that you are anxious and we will allocate a longer slot, a quieter room, and one of our most patient clinicians.

Costs and payment

1. How much does an emergency appointment cost?
   £65 for the consultation. That includes the examination, any necessary x-rays, and immediate pain relief. Anything beyond that — a filling, an extraction, a root canal, a temporary crown — is quoted before it starts, and never started without your agreement. Our full fee schedule is on the Fees page.
2. I am a Denplan patient — what is covered?
   Denplan members at Bramingham have routine emergency cover included at a reduced price of £45 as part of their plan. When you call, please mention you are a Denplan patient — your emergency consultation is at the reduced price, and any treatment that follows will be at member rates. The fine print of what is and is not covered varies by plan tier — see the Fees page for the full Denplan tier breakdown.
3. Can I pay in instalments?
   For larger emergency treatment plans (typically £500 and above) we offer 0% finance over 12 months, subject to status. We can process the application at the practice and have a decision in minutes. Talk to Gill or Honor at reception when you arrive.
4. What payment methods do you accept?
   Card, contactless, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and bank transfer. We do not currently accept cheques.

Children and family

1. Do you see children in dental emergencies?
   Yes. Children with dental pain, knocked-out teeth (including baby teeth — please bring them in milk), broken teeth or facial injury should be seen the same day. Call us first thing.
2. My child has knocked out a baby tooth — should I put it back in?
   No — never reinsert a baby tooth. It can damage the developing adult tooth underneath. Keep the tooth, control any bleeding with gauze, and call us. With adult teeth, the rule is the opposite — get it back in the socket as fast as you can.
3. Are emergency appointments suitable for nervous patients?
   Yes. Tell us when you call — we will allocate a longer slot, a quieter room, and a clinician with strong experience caring for anxious patients. Our nervous patient protocol applies to emergency visits too: a pause signal you can use any time, no surprises, no judgement.

After the appointment

1. Will I need to come back?
   In most cases, yes. The first visit usually gets you out of pain and stabilises things. Definitive treatment — a permanent filling, a crown, a root canal, or follow-up healing checks — is booked at the end of the appointment and is normally within a week or two.
2. What aftercare should I expect?
   You will leave with clear written or verbal instructions on what to eat, what to avoid, and what to expect over the next 24 to 72 hours. We will also give you a direct line to call if anything changes overnight. Most patients feel substantially better within 24 hours; if you do not, please call us back.
3. Will I be in pain after the appointment?
   Some discomfort for 24 to 48 hours is normal — particularly after extractions or drainage of infection. Over-the-counter painkillers (paracetamol and ibuprofen, alternated) handle most of it. If pain is getting worse, not better, after 48 hours, call us.
4. How do I avoid this happening again?
   Most dental emergencies are preventable. Regular check-ups every six months, a hygiene visit twice a year, and an honest conversation about the early warning signs of problems are the three biggest levers. We will recommend a personalised review plan when you come back for your follow-up.