What is defined as a dental emergency during the coronavirus outbreak?
We’re delighted that most of our dental practices across the UK are now open for different levels of face-to-face care. At the present time, we’re prioritising emergency appointments and those with the greatest need. We’ve created some guidance on how to tell if you’re suffering from a dental emergency and what to do next.
Watch our video where Stephen Barter, an oral surgeon at Bupa Dental Care, outlines what to do if you think you have a dental emergency. Alternatively, you can find the dental problem you have in one of the three categories below, which will outline the next steps you need to take.
Non-emergency:
If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms you can potentially treat the problem at home, or talk to your usual dental practice:
- A minor toothache which comes and goes, or causes a dull aching pain
- Pain in your wisdom teeth with no swelling or restricted opening of the mouth
- Sensitive teeth
- Sensitive or bleeding gums
- A sharp pain when biting down
- Mouth ulcers which have been present for less than 10 days
- Orthodontic pain or problems
- A broken or chipped tooth
- A loose or missing crown or veneer
- Discomfort from dentures
If you’re struggling with minor dental pain, read our self-help advice on relieving common dental pain at home.
Dental emergency:
Contact a local practice as soon as possible if you have:
- Swelling of your gum, cheek or face which is spreading. If the swelling is spreading down your neck, up to your eye or along the floor of your mouth YOU MUST ENSURE YOU MENTION THIS when you contact the practice
- Excruciating pain which is causing a lack of sleep or concentration
- Mouth ulcers which haven’t healed after two weeks
- Recently had a tooth extraction and are experiencing bleeding which lasts more than 20 minutes, and can’t be stopped by biting down hard into a hankie/gauze
- Been following self-help advice for your problem but the pain is getting worse
- A broken tooth, which is causing pain and damage to your cheek or tongue, that you haven’t been able to manage with self-help advice
- Knocked-out a tooth
- Controlled bleeding due to facial trauma
These symptoms require you to contact a local practice offering phone support, so they can provide further advice. If they think you require urgent care, they can direct you to an appropriate support location. Find your local Bupa Dental Care practice.
Accident and emergency:
Go straight to A&E if you have:
- Facial swelling affecting your vision, breathing, affecting your ability to swallow or preventing you from opening your mouth more than two fingers wide
- Trauma causing loss of consciousness, double vision or vomiting
- Rapid and uncontrollable bleeding from your mouth
These symptoms are extremely serious and could be life-threatening. Go to your local A&E department as soon as possible for immediate care.
The health, wellbeing and safety of our patients, their families and our people remain our top priority at Bupa Dental Care. We’d like to thank our patients for their understanding during the COVID-19 situation.
Once it is safe for our practices to re-open we encourage you to get in touch and book an appointment. The latest status of our practices can be found at: COVID-19 Notice. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, find and contact your local practice who can offer telephone support and advice to patients with urgent need. They can also direct you to the most appropriate support location if further care is needed.
