What to do in a dental emergency
Losing a permanent tooth is a dental emergency. Dental pain, and many other dental injuries, may be less urgent and can respond well to first aid. Check our dental first aid tips.
The dental payment plans include cover towards the cost of eligible dental treatment required as a result of a dental injury or dental emergency both in the UK and overseas. The cover provides peace of mind that, in the event of a dental injury or dental emergency, help will be at hand.
In the UK
If possible, contact your normal dentist. If you are unable to contact them, or are more than 40 miles away from your normal practice, you can visit any other dentist for help or advice. We can help you Find a Dentist close to you.
Overseas
If you have a dental emergency while you are abroad you can visit any dentist.
Out of hours
If you are in dental pain during the night or at the weekend, you can still receive dental treatment as the dental payment plans include cover for call-out fees and dental emergency treatment, see the Policy summary for details.
Denplan's 24-Hour Worldwide Dental Emergency Helpline
If you require assistance in finding a dentist overseas you can see any dentist of your choice. We recommend that you discuss your needs with your hotel concierge, tour operator representative or any family, friends or colleagues that you know in the area.
View this information as a flowchart
Useful numbers
| Contact | |
|---|
| Dental Emergency Helpline - UK |
0800 844 999
|
| Dental Emergency Helpline - Overseas |
+44 (0)1962 844 999
|
| Insurance team |
0800 085 0960 |
| Email |
insurance@denplan.co.uk |
- Clean the area around the sore tooth thoroughly
- Rinse your mouth vigorously with lukewarm (body temperature) salt water to dislodge trapped food or debris
- Do not use very hot or very cold salt water as this may inflame the gums
- Do not place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth
- If your face is swollen, apply a cold compress and seek help from a dentist as soon as possible
- Cold water rinses may temporarily ease the pain from a throbbing tooth
- Avoid lying down as this raises the blood pressure and increases pain
- If a permanent tooth is knocked out, rinse it gently in water if it's dirty, and push the tooth back into its socket. If this is not possible, put the tooth into milk or saliva to keep it moist. Get to a dentist or hospital casualty department as soon as possible
- If a milk, or baby, tooth is knocked out, it must not be pushed back in
