Emergency for patients
If you are a regular patient at Oriel Villas Dental Surgery and have a dental emergency, please use our dedicated phone number and call 01242 523531 as soon as possible. Our reception team will endeavour to arrange you an emergency appointment with one of our dentists as quickly as possible.
If you have a dental emergency outside of practice opening hours, please phone 111 for the out of hours service.
Emergency for non-patients
If you are not a patient at our practice, we are still happy to help subject to availability, as we must prioritise our regular patients. You are very welcome to enquire regarding the possibility of an appointment by contacting our reception team on 01242 523531.
Whether you’re in severe oral pain, experienced an accident leading to a broken or chipped tooth, or are struggling from bleeding or inflamed gums, it’s reassuring to know you have a dentist on-hand to support you. At Oriel Villas Dental Surgery, we pride ourselves on providing emergency dental care for everyone, regardless of whether they’re our regular patients. We know that everyone experiences dental emergencies, not just our regulars!
If you’re wondering, “what is a dental emergency?” and “what doesn’t classify as a dental emergency?” keep reading.
What Is a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is any problem relating to the teeth, jaw, or gums that requires immediate intervention to soothe extreme pain, save a loose tooth or one that has fallen out, stop bleeding or treat an infection.
According to the NHS, patients require emergency dental care when they need “immediate attention in order to minimise the risk of serious medical complications or prevent long-term dental complications.”
If you’re trying to figure out whether a current dental problem is an emergency, ask yourself:
- Does my tooth really hurt?
- Has a filling or crown come out?
- Is my jaw swollen?
- Have I found a growth or sore in my mouth?
- Do I have a broken or chipped tooth?
- Are any of my teeth loose due to an accident?
- Are my gums bleeding uncontrollably?
- Was my tooth previously painful but has suddenly gone numb?
- Do I suddenly have an unusual popping sensation in my jaw?
If you are experiencing any of these difficulties, we recommend booking an emergency dental appointment. The problem may turn out to be nothing. However, it’s always better to err on the side of caution, especially when it comes to oral health.
The problem with identifying whether a dental issue is an emergency is that pain is subjective – everyone experiences it differently. So, to make this clearer, let’s explore what doesn’t classify as a dental emergency.
What Does Not Classify as a Dental Emergency?
Minor toothache causing a dull, aching pain that comes and goes doesn’t require an emergency dental appointment. Likewise, if your wisdom teeth are starting to come out and, while there is a certain degree of pain, there is no swelling, and you’re still able to open and close your mouth without restriction, there’s no need to book an emergency appointment.
Other oral problems that don’t require emergency intervention are:
- Sensitive teeth
- Short-term mouth ulcers (that have been present for fewer than 10 days)
- Minor discomfort from dentures or retainers
- Sharp pain when you bite down
- Minor orthodontic pain
- Aesthetic dental problems (such as crooked or discoloured teeth)
You can treat all of these dental difficulties at home with painkillers. However, we don’t want you to feel alone in your pain. If the discomfort persists, book a regular appointment, explaining the issue when you do.
” I required extraction. I was terrified. Jacob was compassionate and caring, patient and reassuring. His dental nurse was equally kind. The procedure was completed smoothly and in a timely manner. Thank you for giving me my life back.”
– Andrew Fraser –
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an emergency dentist appointment in Cheltenham?
- Booking an emergency dentist appointment with Oriel Villas is incredibly easy because we understand that when you are experiencing oral pain or discomfort, or another type of oral emergency, you need a simple, straightforward way to contact us.You don't need to be registered as an Oriel Villas patient to receive emergency treatment with us. We are still more than happy to help. However, this will be subject to availability, as we will prioritise our regular patients. To consult Oriel Villas about an emergency dental appointment, call us at 01242 523531.If you are a regular patient at Oriel Villas Dental Surgery, you can call our dedicated phone number (01242 523531) to arrange an emergency appointment.For dental emergencies outside our practice’s regular opening hours, phone 111 for the out-of-hours service. Our standard opening hours are 8 am - 6 pm, Monday to Friday, and Saturday by appointment only.
What is the most common dental emergency?
- Severe toothache, potentially caused by an infected tooth or tooth decay, is the most common cause of dental emergencies. If you’re trying to decide whether or not to book an emergency appointment for toothache, consider the following:- Is there swelling? - Is the pain severe? - Is there uncontrollable bleeding? - Is there any puss?All of these signs indicate that there could be something serious going on with your tooth, typically either an abscess or infection.Other scenarios where patients typically seek emergency dental treatment are:- Bleeding teeth or gums - Mouth sores caused by braces or canker sores - When a tooth has been chipped, broken, dislodged, or knocked out - A lost filling or crown (in some instances) - Broken metal wires or brackets of bracesIt may also surprise you that it’s common for patients to make emergency dental appointments for a broken or dislocated jaw caused by traffic accidents, falls, and sports injuries (and more, but these are the most common).Although a hospital appointment is best in these scenarios, people may call an emergency dentist to identify the long-term damage of a dislocated or broken jaw, including the need for teeth alignment.
What treatment does an emergency dentist do?
- It’s essential to seek an emergency dentist appointment if you need:- Oral pain relief (wisdom teeth, toothache) - Immediate tooth extraction - Care for a dental infection - Attention to broken brace wires or brackets - To fix a loose crown or fillingThe first step of any emergency dental appointment is an examination - this will help your dentist identify the problem. You can often expect an X-ray during this stage. While you may be very aware of the cause of the pain, the examination allows the dentist to pinpoint the extent of the damage and, therefore, the best treatment method.During the examination, your dentist will look for signs of:- Infection - Inflammation - Broken teeth - Missing crowns or fillings - Wisdom teeth coming throughPain relief is a common treatment in emergency dental appointments, as pain and discomfort are generally the causes of concern. Once your dentist has identified the cause of the pain, they may prescribe medications such as antibiotics and/or painkillers.Painkillers work to soothe the pain immediately, while antibiotics take several hours to ease any pain, so your dentist may prescribe a combination treatment.Depending on the issue, your dentist may advise you to book another appointment. Dentists often recommend additional appointments for problems like a broken or chipped tooth or pulp infection (an infection of the live part of your tooth), as they may not be able to complete this during an emergency appointment.