Getting seen quickly gives an injured tooth its best chance.
If you've knocked out an adult tooth, pick it up by the white part, put it back in the socket if you can, or keep it in milk, and call an emergency dentist straight away. For a chipped or cracked tooth, keep any pieces and book in the same day if you can. Speed matters most with a knocked-out tooth.
Below is what to do in the first hour for each kind of injury, and what to expect when you see us.
What should you do if a tooth is knocked out?
Act fast, and handle it carefully. The NHS advice on a knocked-out tooth says you can usually save it by putting it back in place, or in milk, as soon as possible.
Hold the tooth by the crown, the white part you normally see. Don't touch the root.
If it's dirty, lick it clean or rinse it in cold running water for no more than 10 seconds. Don't scrub it.
Try to push it gently back into the gap, the right way round.
If it goes in, bite on a clean cloth to hold it there.
If it won't go back, put it in milk or spit into a container and keep it in that.
Call us, or another emergency dentist, straight away.
Never put a baby tooth back in. It can damage the adult tooth growing underneath. Bring it with you in milk and we'll check your child over.
What if a tooth is chipped, cracked or broken?
A chip is rarely an emergency on its own, but it should still be seen soon. Rinse your mouth with warm water, save any pieces you can find, and press a clean cloth on anywhere that's bleeding. A cold compress on your cheek helps with swelling.
A cracked tooth is different. If it hurts to bite, or the pain comes and goes with hot and cold, the crack may reach the nerve. Don't wait for it to settle. Cracks tend to get worse, and seeing an emergency dentist early can be the difference between a filling and losing the tooth.
What should you avoid after a dental injury?
Don't hold a knocked-out tooth by the root or let it dry out. Don't store it in water. Don't use painkillers as a reason to put off being seen, because a tooth that stops hurting can still be damaged inside. And don't try to glue a broken piece back on yourself, however tempting it is before a big event.
When is it a hospital job, not a dental one?
Go to A&E or call 999 if you have swelling that's spreading, or that affects your breathing or swallowing. The same goes for a suspected broken jaw or any head injury. Dental treatment can wait until you've been checked.
What will the emergency dentist do?
At our practice, an emergency assessment covers a general medical check, a focused look at the problem, x-rays and intra-oral photos, and a treatment plan. If antibiotics are needed, the dentist will advise on that too.
What happens next depends on the injury. A knocked-out tooth that's been put back is usually splinted to its neighbours for a while to let it settle. A chipped front tooth can often be rebuilt with composite bonding. A crack that reaches the nerve may need root canal treatment or a crown. Any further treatment costs extra, and your dentist will explain the cost on the day before going ahead.
A patient with one of our team at Whitefield Dental.
How much does an emergency dentist cost in Whitefield?
An emergency assessment is £75, or £45 if you're registered with us. That includes the x-rays. If you're on one of our plans, you get an emergency appointment within 48 hours, and plans also include the Worldwide Dental Emergency Assist Scheme. See our plan membership page for details.
How can you lower the risk next time?
If you play contact sports, wear a properly fitted mouthguard. Knocked-out front teeth often happen during sport or after a fall. Don't open bottles or packets with your teeth, and if you grind at night, ask about a night guard, because grinding weakens teeth and makes cracks more likely.
Can you see an emergency dentist near me today?
We see both registered and non-registered patients for emergencies. Call reception first and we'll tell you the quickest next step. We're on Radcliffe New Road in Whitefield, about ten minutes on foot from Whitefield Metrolink stop, and handy for Prestwich and Radcliffe. We open at 8am on Fridays and stay open until 8pm on Tuesdays, which helps with injuries that happen around the working day.
Get help from our emergency dentist
If you've broken or knocked out a tooth, call us now on 0161 524 9883. The sooner an emergency dentist sees it, the better the chance of saving it.
Whitefield Dental is at 118 Radcliffe New Road, Whitefield, Manchester M45 7WQ. Call us on 0161 524 9883 or email dentist@whitefielddentalpractice.co.uk. We're open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am to 6pm, Tuesday 9am to 8pm, Friday 8am to 3pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm by pre-booking.
Frequently asked questions
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As little time as possible. The sooner it goes back in or into milk, and the sooner you see a dentist, the better its chances.
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No. Use milk or saliva. Only rinse it under cold water for a few seconds if it's dirty.
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Usually. Small chips can often be smoothed or rebuilt with composite bonding. Bigger breaks may need a crown.
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No. We offer emergency appointments to registered and non-registered patients.
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£75, or £45 for registered patients, including x-rays. Further treatment is extra and explained on the day.
