Emergency Dentistry | Denmark Hill Smiles

Expert Care for a Healthier, More Confident Smile

Dental emergencies happen usually without warning, and often at the worst possible time. A broken tooth, sudden swelling, a knocked-out tooth from a fall, a filling that's come out before an important event. When they do happen, what matters most is being seen quickly, by someone who knows exactly what to do.

At Denmark Hill Smiles, we keep emergency appointments available throughout each working day specifically for situations like these. Most patients can be seen the same day they call, with calm, expert care from our clinical team.

Call Us on 020 7274 0861

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What is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is any sudden injury, infection or pain that can't reasonably wait for a routine appointment. The most common are severe toothache, swelling or signs of infection, a broken or chipped tooth, a knocked-out tooth (whether from a fall, sport or accident), a lost crown or filling, or a sudden injury to the gums or soft tissues. If you're in any doubt, call us we'd rather you check.

Dentist explaining procedure to a smiling patient.

Your Emergency Visit

When you call us with an emergency, the first thing we'll do is listen understanding what's happened, how long it's been going on, and how much discomfort you're in. From there, we'll either book you in at the next available slot that same day, or if you can't get to the practice quickly - give you clear guidance on what to do in the meantime to manage pain and protect the affected tooth until you can be seen.

Once you arrive, the priority is comfort. We'll stop any pain you're in before anything else usually with a numbing local anaesthetic and then assess exactly what's happened with photographs and X-rays where needed. Treatment then depends entirely on the situation: sometimes a temporary repair to get you through the next few days, sometimes a definitive treatment on the spot. Either way, you'll leave with a clear understanding of what's been done and what comes next.

Call 020 7274 0861

Gloved hands examining a model of the teeth.

Step 1

Call Us First

Tell us what's happened and we'll book you in fast.

Step 2

Same-Day Care

Pain relieved, situation assessed, immediate treatment provided.

Step 3

Follow-Up Plan

Clear next steps for any further treatment needed.

EMERGENCY

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Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a dental emergency? arrow_forward_ios

Anything causing significant pain, swelling, or that can't reasonably wait for a routine appointment. The most common emergencies we see are severe toothache, facial swelling or signs of infection, a broken or chipped tooth, a knocked-out tooth (often from a fall or sport), a lost crown or filling, and sudden bleeding that won't stop. If you're not sure whether it qualifies, just call us — we'd always rather you check.

Can I be seen today? arrow_forward_ios

In most cases, yes. We keep emergency slots available throughout each working day specifically for situations like these. If you call us before lunchtime, we can almost always fit you in that same afternoon. For genuine emergencies — significant pain, facial swelling, or trauma — we'll always prioritise finding a slot, even if our usual diary is full.

What should I do if I've knocked out a tooth? arrow_forward_ios

Time matters — call us straight away. If the tooth is intact, pick it up by the crown (the white part, not the root), rinse it gently in water if it's dirty, and try to place it back in the socket. If that's not possible, store it in milk or saliva and bring it with you. The faster you can be seen — ideally within an hour — the better the chance the tooth can be saved.

Should I go to A&E or to the dentist? arrow_forward_ios

For most dental emergencies, a dentist is the right place — A&E generally can't provide dental treatment, only pain relief. The exceptions are facial trauma involving the jaw or surrounding bones, uncontrolled bleeding after an injury, or significant swelling that's affecting your breathing or swallowing. In those cases, A&E or 999 first, then us once you've been seen. For everything else, call us first.

How much will an emergency appointment cost? arrow_forward_ios

An emergency consultation is charged at our standard private consultation rate, or NHS Band 1 if you're an NHS patient. The cost of any treatment that follows depends entirely on what's needed — a temporary repair is significantly less than a definitive treatment like a root canal or crown. We'll always tell you the cost of any treatment before we start, so there are no surprises.