Can Emergency Dentist Prescribe Antibiotics?

In the UK, NHS dentistry requires reform, to make dental care more accessible. NHS dentists are increasingly quitting, due to the pressures of serving high volumes of patients on limited budgets.

Research has shown that every time a dentist leaves the NHS, this means that 2,000 patients could lose access to NHS care; this equates to 4 million patients missing out due to the 2,000 dentists that left in 2021.

Sadly, this means that many people are missing out on urgent treatment when a tooth emergency arises.

In this article, we will answer the question, ‘can emergency dentist prescribe antibiotics?’, as well as outline key facts about urgent dental care.

What is an emergency dentist?

An emergency dentist is trained specifically to deal with tooth emergencies.

A dental emergency is a tooth problem which requires immediate attention, in order to minimise the risk of serious medical complications or prevent long-term dental complications.

Many emergency dentists (such as us at Didsbury Dental Practice) offer out-of-hours emergency care so that patients can access these services outside of 9-to-5 working hours.

If you need urgent dental treatment, call your dentist, as they may be able to offer you an emergency appointment. You will usually be seen immediately or within 24 hours.

If the dental practice is closed, then their answerphone message will advise you on what to do.

If you don’t have a dentist, or you cannot find an emergency dental appointment, use the NHS 111 online or telephone service.

Should I see a dentist if I have a tooth emergency?

If a tooth emergency arises, the best thing to do is book an emergency dentist appointment as soon as possible.

When it comes to the teeth, gums, mouth, jaws and face, a dentist is usually the best person who can help in an emergency. They are trained and equipped to deal with any type of dental emergency, so they will provide the appropriate treatment and expert advice, to make you feel better.

The quicker you are examined by a dental professional, the faster they will be able to ease your symptoms, relieve any pain, and resolve the problem.

How do I know if my toothache is serious?

You should book an emergency dentist appointment as soon as possible if you experience any of the following dental emergencies:

Uncontrollable dental haemorrhage following extractions.
Rapidly increasing swelling around the throat or eye.
Excessive bleeding after tooth extraction which persists even after biting into gauze.
Trauma confined to the dental arches.
Excruciating tooth pain.
Severe dental and facial painwhich does not go away with over-the-counter medications.
Trauma to the face, mouth or jaw.
A knocked-out or broken tooth.
Dental and soft tissue acute infection.
Swelling of the gums, cheek, or face.
Partially dislodged tooth.
Abscess (build-up of pus that forms in the teeth or gums, caused by an infection).
Mouth ulcers that have not healed after 2 weeks.

Can emergency dentist prescribe antibiotics?

If you have a tooth emergency, this may be caused by an underlying infection. You may not even realise you have an infection until severe symptoms start to show.

So, can emergency dentist prescribe antibiotics?

Yes, an emergency dentist has the ability to prescribe antibiotics to patients, to fight a particular infection.

A patient might develop a tooth infection called a dental abscess. This is a build-up of pus inside the teeth, in the gums, or in the bone that holds the teeth in place, caused by a bacterial infection.

Infections can also develop in the gums, which can lead to periodontitis (a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue around teeth).

Antibiotics which are used to treat tooth and gum infections include Amoxicillin, Metronidazole and Clarithromycin.

How can I ease the pain of a tooth infection?

We know how uncomfortable and painful a tooth infection can be, so follow these tips below to help promote healing:

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush when cleaning your teeth.
Hold a cold compress to the side of your face to reduce swelling.
Avoid eating with the painful side of your mouth.
Eat softer foods that are easy to chew, such as scrambled eggs, smoothies, soup or yoghurt.
Manage your pain with over-the-counter medication and tooth pain gel, but never more than the recommended dosage. (Please note that children under 16 should not take aspirin).
Rinse your mouth with salt water, to ease tooth inflammation. (Children should never do this, however.)
Using a cotton bud, apply diluted clove oil to the affected area, as clove possesses anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
It may not sound appealing, but chewing on an onion may bring you relief. Onions are a natural antiseptic and can effectively eliminate germs in the mouth.
Consult a dentist if your pain or symptoms worsen.

Where can I get an emergency dental appointment?

At Didsbury Dental Practice, our emergency dental care is second to none.

Our emergency dental care service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including on Bank Holidays and Christmas Day.

Our team of dental professionals can provide treatment for any type of dental emergency: from severe toothache and tooth infections to broken teeth, lost fillings or gum inflammation.

Didsbury Dental Practice has got you covered, at any time of day or night. Dental emergencies can be very painful, so we offer out-of-hours treatment because we know that dental problems don’t always stick to 9.00 am to 12.00 am.

To book an emergency appointment with us, it is not necessary for you to be an existing patient at our practice.

If you experience a dental emergency, simply call our dental emergency helpline on 0161 413 2509, or walk into our dental practice, and we will aim to see you as soon as possible.

Click here to learn more about the emergency dental care offered at Didsbury Dental Practice.

Didsbury Dental Practice consultation & pricings

The cost of an emergency dental consultation is £55. For this price, you benefit from the following:

Rapidly available appointments across seven days a week.
24/7 telephone support from our knowledgeable team of dental professionals.
A full consultation, including the creation of your bespoke treatment plan.
Additional support for nervous patients, including treatment with state-of-the-art dental lasers and sedation.

About Didsbury Dental Practice

We are a 24-hour emergency dentist in South Manchester. Our team is highly experienced, and we deliver a level of patient comfort like no other dental practice. Every patient is treated with the most sophisticated care in a truly relaxed atmosphere.

In addition, all of our staff are multi-lingual. Languages spoken at our dental practice include German, French, Polish, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi.

If you need an emergency appointment, call our dental emergency helpline on 0161 413 2835, or walk into our practice and we will aim to see you as soon as possible.

We offer a wide range of dental services and treatments, including teeth whitening, Invisalign, Alias lingual braces, Six Month Smiles Braces and Damon Clear Braces.

To learn more about Didsbury Dental Practice, visit our website here.

Our opening hours are from:

9:00AM – 12:00AM: Monday to Sunday

Check out our blog to read more articles on all things dental health.

We hope this article has answered the question, ‘can emergency dentist prescribe antibiotics?’