Unfortunately, there are times when severe, throbbing, radiating tooth pain appears—sometimes so intense that even painkillers bring little relief and sleep becomes impossible.
In some cases, a swelling next to the tooth may also develop.
How we handle emergencies
Even though appointments are normally scheduled in advance, in such cases we do our best to provide an emergency appointment the same day or at the latest the next day.
We extend our opening hours if necessary so that patients already booked do not need to have their appointments cancelled.
What you can do at home
- Take an over-the-counter painkiller as a first step and call to request an urgent appointment.
- Our receptionist may ask questions about the type of pain and, if needed, will consult the dentist to arrange the emergency visit.
If your usual painkiller is not effective and you are already a registered patient (so we have your details), it may be possible for the dentist to prescribe a stronger painkiller electronically.
At the clinic
A lasting solution is possible only after examination and treatment at the dental office.
- The dentist focuses immediately on eliminating the cause of pain, so a full routine check-up may be skipped.
- X-ray imaging is almost always necessary to locate the source of the problem.
- Once the cause is confirmed, after local anaesthesia the dentist starts treating the inflammation—most often with root canal therapy.
If the infection has spread beyond the root tip (for example when the face is swollen) and root canal treatment alone is not sufficient, oral surgical intervention may also be required.
In some cases antibiotics are necessary, but in the vast majority of cases the local emergency procedure itself brings significant pain relief by the next day.
Next steps
The emergency visit usually provides immediate relief, but definitive treatment of the tooth continues at planned follow-up appointments arranged after the acute phase.