Can I Go to A&E With a Tooth Problem?

In December 2022 alone, more than 2 million people visited A&E in the UK. With this vital function offering a solution to medical woes of all levels, it is not surprising to see such high numbers. Whilst these are lower figures than we have seen over the past decade, the continuing shortage of medical staff and prolonged COVID measures in some places means that waiting times persistently rise. 

‘Can I go to A&E with a tooth problem?’ is a commonly searched term which shows that people are increasingly looking for solutions to their dental woes. The statistics further confirm this, with 3.5 billion people expected to be suffering from oral diseases worldwide. The increased chance of dental problems coupled with the shortage of NHS dentists is sure to continue creating issues for many in the UK.

We offer emergency dental services at Didsbury Dental Practice for people in and around Manchester (or further if you are willing to travel!). By taking the stigma out of private healthcare and creating attainable services, we have created a viable solution to the quick treatment of tooth problems. 

Keep reading to understand what process you should follow if that dull pain in your mouth starts to show its unwanted presence. 

Can I Go to A&E With a Toothache?

The official NHS advice for toothaches is that you should not visit A&E unless any of the following characterises your circumstance:

– If the area around your eye, neck or anywhere else on the face is swollen, this can cause issues such as blood flow, muscles, and facial movement.

– If any swelling is making it difficult for you to breathe, swallow or speak.

These circumstances are allowed as they can lead to other health issues that extend past the remit of emergency dental treatment. For anything else, you are advised not to visit A&E and instead book an emergency dental appointment with your practice.

With A&E teams across the country being consistently put under a lot of pressure, we can understand why hospital teams do not serve this medical issue. There is a reason why even NHS dental services are treated separately from other matters, mainly team expertise. The only dental practitioners you will find within a hospital are Orthodontists, but they specialise in specialist treatment that is by appointment only. Unless you get lucky and find a doctor on duty who has studied in different medical fields, you will not find dental professionals in A&E. 

Visiting A&E for a medical issue that cannot be resolved by the team available is also not recommended as it takes time away from other forms of treatment that can be resolved. This not only causes delays to other patients but means that you will be left suffering in dental discomfort for much longer than you need to be.

Are There Any Dental Problems That A&E Can Resolve?

The only treatment you may receive is likely a referral, stitches for any accompanying facial injuries, or the provision of some form of painkiller if you visit A&E with a dental disaster. If the issue is not deemed to be affecting any other areas of the face or body, they will not be able to administer the proper treatment that a dentist would offer.

What Are the Main Causes of Dental Problems?

One of the first steps is to understand what dental issues are an emergency. By knowing what you are dealing with, you can better understand the forms of treatment available in your situation. 

If you are suffering from any of the following, we deem it a dental emergency and therefore require speedy treatment before things get worse.

If you have a broken, chipped, or lost tooth.

Any of these dental disasters would result in other side effects, which leave you in a much worse position, so they are deemed as a form of treatment that is needed hastily. If not treated properly via an emergency X-Ray and consultation, you could end up with issues for your other teeth that are not currently being affected.

If you are bleeding from anywhere in the mouth.

Dental bleeding can signify oral diseases or infections, so it should be treated hastily. As well as proving hazardous to your teeth and gums, it can lead to other medical issues, such as fainting or infection, if the open areas are not looked at quickly. 

If you are experiencing chronic toothache that is getting worse.

The cause of toothache needs to be treated as it can lead to broader infections or, worst cases, the loss of teeth. The unbearable pain can also cause issues with eating and drinking, which means that patients develop headaches that we would not want anyone to experience. 

No matter the cause of the pain, seeing a dentist is essential as they can provide immediate dental care or give you the information needed to treat other medical issues. People often ask if a toothache is considered a dental emergency. If it is impacting your life, then yes, it is.

If you have a mouth sore, abscess, or infection.

A dental abscess will cause toothache, and swelling and can lead to other infections within the body that can be hard to treat. Treatment should always be obtained as if left; it can also lead to issues with breathing and swallowing. These infections will not just go away by themselves, so leaving them will just mean you are in a much worse position. 

How Does the Emergency Dental Appointment Work?

Unlike the endless hours you could spend sitting in A&E waiting to be seen, booking an emergency dental appointment is simple. You can get an emergency dental appointment quickly if you follow the below steps. 

DETERMINE – Understand your dental issue to ascertain whether an emergency appointment is a solution for you. You should always attend an emergency dental appointment quickly if you deem it to be needed, as delaying treatment could end up leaving you in more pain and costing more in treatment fees. 

CONTACT – At Didsbury Dental Practice, our phone lines are open 24 hours a day to ensure that you can make an appointment whenever needed. We also offer appointments seven days a week from 9 am to 12 am, as we know that dental issues don’t just strike at convenient times! 

When booking an appointment, you will be triaged over the phone and asked to provide information relating to your issue. This helps the teams to book you in as soon as possible and ensure that the most serious of issues are not left untreated.

With our practice, you can book an appointment regardless of whether you are an existing or a new patient by either booking a consultation online or by calling us on 0161 445 0005. 

It should be noted that this process will differ between practices, so you should always check out the opening hours and published availability before starting the booking process so that you are not left in pain for longer than you need to be.

ATTEND – You will usually be given an appointment within a few hours or days for the emergency consultation. This will include an assessment and initial treatment to stop your tooth problem from deteriorating. 

Usually, this is accompanied by follow-up sessions in the coming days and weeks, depending on your issue. 

Our own approach to managing this is to provide a bespoke treatment plan for each patient so that you can understand what steps need to be taken to resolve your dental woes. At this point, the costs will also be included, and payment options will be discussed so that you have complete visibility of your upcoming care.

Why Should I Choose Didsbury Dental Practice?

If you are after a slot at A&E for a tooth problem, we can assure you that we are the dental equivalent of that! Our treatment can be booked at short notice and offers a hasty alleviation of your dental pain. 

When you choose our services, you will also benefit from the following:

• Quick treatment must be speedier than waiting for an NHS dentist or another form of medical assistance.
• Improved quality of care will see you relieved of pain as our priority. You will also get appointments quicker, be seen in a non-clinical environment, and receive longer appointments than the NHS equivalents. 
• Receiving complete pricing transparency from the outset allows you to determine which treatment is best for you.
• Flexibility: You can use our service only for emergency treatment if you wish and are not obligated to continue your care with us. This means if your normal dentist is fully booked or does not offer emergency care, you don’t need to wait for weeks for the treatment you need. 

Can I go to A&E with a tooth problem? No, you cannot, but that doesn’t mean speedy treatment isn’t available for you. If you suspect that you may need an emergency tooth extraction, please call us on 0161 445 0005 or book an appointment online.