Emergency Advice

If you have a dental emergency

Registered patients: call us on 0141 554 0499 as early in the day as possible and we will do our best to see you promptly. Please note emergency appointments now carry a charge unless you are an exempt patient.

Not registered with any dentist? If you are in pain or have swelling, call NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde on 0141 232 6323 for assistance.

Toothache

• Take over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (always follow the packet instructions and never place aspirin against the gum — it burns).
• Rinse with warm salt water and keep the area clean.
• Avoid very hot, cold or sweet food and drink.
• If pain lasts more than a day or two, or wakes you at night, contact us — toothache rarely gets better on its own.

Knocked-out adult tooth

1. Find the tooth and hold it by the crown (the white part) — never touch the root.
2. If dirty, rinse briefly in milk or saline. Do not scrub it.
3. If possible, push it gently back into the socket and bite on a clean cloth.
4. If you can't re-implant it, store it in milk (not water) and contact a dentist immediately — the first hour is critical.

Baby teeth should not be re-implanted — contact us for advice instead.

Broken or chipped tooth

Rinse your mouth with warm water and save any fragments. Cover sharp edges with sugar-free chewing gum or dental wax from a pharmacy, and book an appointment as soon as possible.

Lost crown, bridge or filling

Keep the crown or bridge safe and contact us — do not use household glue to refit it. A pharmacy temporary repair kit can protect the tooth for a day or two. Please note that recementing bridges now carries a charge unless you are exempt.

Bleeding after an extraction

Roll a clean handkerchief or gauze into a pad, place it over the socket and bite firmly for 15–20 minutes while sitting upright. Avoid rinsing, hot drinks, alcohol and smoking. If bleeding hasn't stopped after repeated attempts, contact us or NHS 24 on 111.