Dental emergencies vary in levels of seriousness and there is very little that prevents a patient from imagining the worst possible scenario without the professional attention of our highly capable emergency dentist in Edinburgh to diagnose the problem.

It is a common error for patients to delay finding a dental clinic offering emergency dental care until an unfortunate occasion arises. We advise against this as, when in the midst of a dental emergency, a patient runs the risk of relying on the wrong type of help in the effort to find quick relief, as there is very little room to carry out adequate research to ensure the health practitioner has the required skills and experience needed.

At Polwarth Dental Clinic we have included emergency dental care as one of our mainstream dental services, because we acknowledge that emergency dentistry is a patient’s best hope to find relief quickly and ease their stress and anxieties. There is much more to benefit from with a visit to our emergency dentist in Edinburgh. 

Key benefits of emergency dentistry

Reliable pain relief

Patients may think to skip out on professional dental care in the hopes that over-the-counter medication may, at best, dull the pain experienced, but they cannot address the root cause of the pain which is what is needed to stop the progression of the problem. The immediate concern of our emergency dentist in Edinburgh is to alleviate the cause of the patient’s pain and ensure patient comfort. Once these steps have been taken, we will make a reliable diagnosis of the problem and suggest all available treatment methods to correct it.

Gain information

A patient is not able to tell the full extent of a dental problem by observing the pain alone. Only a complete assessment by a professional emergency dentist can provide reliable information on whether the pain is a result of a small concern which is easily resolved or a bigger issue which may require additional treatment.

Big or small, treating a dental emergency is best left in the hands of our emergency dentist who has the right set of credentials (experience, knowledge and skills) and tools with which to prevent small and big issues from escalating to cause major undesirable consequences.

Quicker recovery

Pain in the mouth can cause loss of quality sleep and difficulties in speaking and eating, not to mention being unable to carry out everyday activities. Professional dental care allows one to recover quicker and get back into a normal routine again. Leaving a problem such as a toothache to go untreated in the hope it will just disappear is ill advised, as the problem will keep reoccurring with the situation escalating over time only for a patient to find that now there is a much more serious dental problem to treat.

Finding the right assistance in a dental emergency is critical which is why at Polwarth Dental Clinic we have a qualified and well-trained emergency dentist experienced in many types of emergency dental care treatments. Reach out to us for an appointment should you experience sudden tooth pain, experience a facial injury or damage your dentures, we will be happy to help.

Trying to get back to their normal daily routine is nearly impossible for any patient experiencing the pain and discomfort of a dental emergency. The pain can be too distracting to allow one to sleep properly or eat or talk, or even smile. Finding relief from pain is certainly a top most priority for patients, which is best provided by seeking professional attention from our emergency dentist in Edinburgh. However, there are other equally desirable advantages of quality urgent dental care services. 

At Polwarth Dental Clinic we acknowledge that a dental emergency can be the cause of undue stress and anxiety which is why we include emergency dental care as a core part of our service menu. Our emergency dentist in Edinburgh has the exact skill set – qualifications, real-world practical experience, friendly chairside manner and relevant skills – to ensure dental emergencies are treated with the utmost care and consideration. How can our emergency dentist in Edinburgh help you? We look at the various ways.

Why we practise emergency dental care

To determine full extent of the damage

Dental emergencies can vary in seriousness and a patient is not able to determine just at what level of seriousness without the knowledgeable attentions of our emergency dentists. A knocked out tooth, for example, can have far more serious consequences than at first imagined. The gap left open by a single tooth can cause an undesirable chain of events, including adjacent teeth moving out of position and the deterioration of jawbone density that will result in more expensive treatment to resolve.

To save a valuable tooth from being lost

Each tooth is valued in the dental arch. In addition to the risk to tooth structure, a lost tooth can create challenges to bite and chewing function as well as detract from a pleasing confident smile. To replace a tooth that is not saved, a patient will have to incur the further expense of missing teeth replacement treatment plans. This can all be avoided by allowing our emergency dentist the opportunity to save a knocked out tooth while it is still possible (there is a small window period that makes this attainable).

To ease patient pain sooner

In many instances over-the-counter, pain-relieving medications aren’t effective enough in providing relief from pain caused by a dental emergency. Our dental practitioner experienced in emergency dental care can zero in on the root of the problem quite quickly and take appropriate steps to quell the pain and provide any further treatment that is needed. Starting timely treatment ends in a patient healing faster.

To limit the risk of further complications

The one thing that failure to seek timely care from a professional emergency dentist does is to complicate an already worrying situation. Appropriate dental treatment will help contain the problem and stop it from escalating and cause other unwanted consequences. The decision to seek urgent dental care reduces the risk of further complications and saves the patient from having to spend more money on dental care.

Look no further than Polwarth Dental Clinic for a quality emergency dental care experience. Give us a call to find out what our working hours are.

What is the best way to prepare for a dental emergency? You are already in pain and the last thing you would want is an unpleasant dental experience at a dental clinic you are not familiar with to make matters worse. The first step begins before a situation occurs which is to find a suitably qualified and experienced dental practitioner who will be there for you when you require urgent dental attention. One you already know and trust.

Our emergency dentist in Edinburgh at Polwarth Dental Clinic has the relevant experience and set of skills to handle dental emergencies. We know that dental emergencies can be an incredibly stressful and anxiety-ridden time, which is why the dedicated efforts of our emergency dentist in Edinburgh are focused on providing patients with much needed relief as quickly as possible.

Seeking professional treatment for a dental emergency is critically important to not only find relief from pain, but to also prevent the dental issue from escalating, resulting in long-term consequences to dental health, prolonged treatment plans and extra expense. Here are further reasons why visiting our emergency dentist in Edinburgh to treat your dental emergency is so important.

Benefits of dental emergency care

• Know the extent of the dental issue

It is only when you see a dentist experienced in treating dental emergencies are you able to learn the full extent of the problem. Our highly capable emergency dentist will conduct a full assessment of the problem and make suggestions as to immediate and any possible further treatments.

• Strengthen the chances of saving a tooth

Many patients make the error of thinking a knocked out tooth is no big deal. This is far from the truth as having a single tooth missing from the dental arch can adversely impact oral health in terms of function and aesthetics. Immediate dental care from an experienced practitioner heightens the possibility of a tooth that has fallen out being saved. The advantages of this includes saving the patient from the unexpected expense of needing further treatment to replace a missing tooth with a suitable dental device.

• Stop the spread of an infection

Tooth and gum infections can be the cause of discomfort and pain that can disrupt a patient’s daily life, which is why dental practitioners encourage patients suffering these conditions to treat them as dental emergencies. Urgent dental care to treat mouth infections provide two main benefits: relief from discomfort and prevention of the infection worsening and causing more damage by spreading deeper into the body.

• Get back to a normal life

Nothing can keep someone from their daily activities quite like pain and discomfort from a dental issue that can make simple tasks like speaking and eating unbearable. Proper professional dental care from our dedicated emergency dentist is best; to encourage a fast, complete recovery in order to get back on track in resuming daily activities.

If you need to know what our working hours are or to learn more about our dental emergency services reach out to us at Polwarth Dental Clinic.

Are you based in Edinburgh and looking for an emergency dentist? Maybe you have had an accident which has left you with an injury such as a chipped or broken tooth and you are unsure of what to do. Our practice, Polwarth Dental Clinic, is an emergency dentist in Edinburgh and we provide emergency services for new and existing patients. So if you are in the situation where you require fast treatment you need not look any further, because at our practice we are able to treat any dental emergency you may have.

About Polwarth Dental Clinic

Led by our principal dentist Dr William MacEachen, Polwarth Dental Clinic was established in 1955 and since then, we have been providing high-quality dentistry for all the family. Our team is made up of experienced dental hygienists, implantologists, dental nurses and dental receptionists who all work together to ensure that Polwarth Dental Clinic is a friendly and professional service for our patients. We take our time to know all our patients individually and offer the best dental treatments in accordance with their needs.

We offer dental treatments within all areas of dentistry including general, restorative, preventive and cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry at Polwarth Dental Clinic is an area of dentistry in which our team has years of experience and we are able to provide high-quality, cosmetic dental treatments such as dental implants, (which are an option for a patient who is dealing with a missing tooth or teeth), veneers and teeth whitening. Whether it is to rectify one tooth or a complete smile makeover, at our practice we focus on helping our patients to achieve a smile they desire along with improving their confidence.

In addition, we also offer emergency dentistry for our existing patients and new patients.

Our emergency dentist in Edinburgh

At Polwarth Dental Clinic, if you are dealing with a dental emergency and you are registered at our practice, we offer same day emergency dental appointments. We advise our patients to call the practice as soon as possible if you have had an accident or are experiencing pain. Our team of dental professionals will aim to resolve your dental issue and relieve you of any discomfort you may be experiencing. If we are unable to provide a solution during the emergency appointment, we will provide a temporary solution and invite you back to the practice for follow-up dental treatment.

Although our emergency dental services are available between Monday and Friday, we do understand that dental emergencies can occur outside of working hours, which is why we also offer an out-of-hours emergency service. When you call our practice during these times, you will be greeted with an answering machine with instructions for our on-call dentist. There is a call out fee for this service and this service is available for all our registered patients 365 days per year.

So if you are looking for an emergency dentist in Edinburgh, you can rest assured that our  dentists at Polwarth Dental Practice will be able to deal with your dental situation.

Care when you need it

At Polwarth Dental Clinic, we are passionate about our patients and ensure that they receive the highest standard of dental care treatment possible.

Our emergency dentist in Edinburgh is committed to making sure anyone who needs it receives emergency treatment on the same day. Whenever this proves difficult – in more complex cases – we will always do all we can to make sure you leave our practice in less pain and with a treatment plan made for the immediate future.

When most consider a dental emergency, they primarily think of trauma-related injuries and tooth losses. These are undeniably dental emergencies, although several other dental issues should also be considered a dental emergency.

What is considered a dental emergency?

Understanding when to contact our emergency dentist in Edinburgh is crucial, especially given these strange and uncertain circumstances, which may cause people to put off or ignore issues that they shouldn’t.

At Polwarth Dental Clinic, our emergency dentist in Edinburgh has seen it all. No matter what state a patient’s teeth may be in, they will do everything possible to get their smile back into a fit, healthy and presentable condition.

Trauma and tooth losses due to injury are familiar sights for an emergency dentist. However, not all dental emergencies may be as obvious or easy to identify. Below are some equally common and equally severe dental emergencies that may not present themselves in such an immediately apparent fashion.

Constant toothache

If you are experiencing severe and continuous toothache, it is not to be ignored. Usually, a persistent toothache is an indication that you have a cavity, abscess or infection. Any of these require immediate dental attention, and our emergency dentist here at Polwarth Dental Clinic is more than equipped to deal with it.  

Losing a filling

Although fillings are commonplace, and losing one may not seem like a big deal – it is something that you should not ignore. Fillings rarely last forever, but it leaves your tooth open for several dental problems such as decay or gum disease when they fall out. It may also cause your tooth to become more sensitive to heat and cold, which can be uncomfortable. By reaching out to our emergency dentist, we can get you a new filling in a single day.

What do I do if I’ve lost a tooth?

As mentioned before, dental trauma and tooth loss are some of the most common dental emergencies. However, this does not mean that losing a tooth is negligible or not traumatic for the patient.

There are countless ways that someone may lose a tooth. Still, there is a specific protocol that ought to be followed regardless, which can improve the likelihood of the tooth being saved by our emergency dentist at Polwarth Dental Clinic:

1. Pick up the lost tooth (if intact) by the crown, not the root.
2. Use saliva on the crown to remove any dirt or bacteria, or rinse it with milk – never water.
3. If you can, try reinserting the tooth into the gap in your mouth yourself.
4. Do so by placing a clean handkerchief or tissue over the tooth and biting gently.
5. Then contact us here at Polwarth Dental Clinic as soon as possible.

The sooner you seek treatment from us after losing a tooth, the higher the likelihood we can reinsert it. Whatever happens, if you need us, you should always contact our emergency dentist here at Polwarth Dental Clinic without delay.

Understanding a dental emergency

At Polwarth Dental Clinic we empathise with the pressures and strains that many of our patients have been under throughout the recent national lockdown measures.

We’ve always been committed to providing our patients with the best possible standards of care and excellence in the services we offer. While the pandemic may have changed the face of how we do things, this is something that has and will always remain true.

We recognise that fewer people have been able to get the routine dental care they require, as services were primarily reserved purely for dental emergencies.

However, what exactly qualifies as a dental emergency and when you should contact our emergency dentist in Edinburgh is something that some patients are still unclear about.

Below will cover what constitutes a dental emergency and what to do if you are experiencing one.

Different types of dental emergency

People often have a tendency to assume that they should only contact their emergency dentist in Edinburgh if they have lost or broken a tooth due to trauma or an accident.

While this certainly does qualify as a dental emergency, there are also several other dental emergencies that may be somewhat less obvious – although are equally serious.

Severe toothache

 If you are experiencing severe or worsening toothache then you may need to contact your emergency dentist in Edinburgh. There are a number of reasons for toothache developing, such as decay, gum diseases or an abscess.

When a toothache first arises it is always advised that you rinse your mouth with warm water before applying a cold cloth or ice pack to the affected area for about 20 minutes. If the toothache is not dealt with swiftly by a professional dentist such as ours then it could worsen and result in far more drastic treatment measures becoming necessary.

Lost fillings or crowns

Fillings and crowns are commonplace, and most people have at least one throughout their mouths. Over time, due to wear and tear, crowns and fillings can become loose or fall out. This is not something that should be overlooked as it may indicate that a cavity is present, as well as leaving the tooth exposed and at risk of temperature sensitivity.

If a filling or crown falls out, it is always advisable that you use warm water to rinse out your mouth, before attempting to fill the gap with cotton wool or a specialist dental filling. After this, you should contact your emergency dentist as soon as you can.

Facial swelling

Another indicator that you may need to contact our emergency dentist here at Polwarth Dental Clinic is if you are experiencing facial swelling.

Swelling, accompanied by pain, is usually an indication that you may have an abscess or infection. If this is not dealt with quickly and effectively then the infection may worsen or spread throughout your body.

If you notice any facial swelling it is always advised that you make an appointment with us here at Polwarth Dental Clinic as soon as possible.

What happens at an emergency dentist?

As no two dental emergencies are ever the same, no two patients have identical experiences at our emergency dental practice. Generally, we always examine the cause of the problem and administer some anaesthetic to relieve the pain.

If possible we always try and treat dental emergencies on the same day, but if this is not possible then we will do everything we can at your initial visit so you can go home in less discomfort.

When a tooth related dilemma takes place it is usually not planned and at the most inconvenient of times. At Polwarth Dental Clinic we know that in an urgent situation you need to be seen as soon as possible, which is why we offer same day appointments wherever possible. Whether you are a registered patient or not, our emergency dentist in Edinburgh is available Monday to Friday to help you in whatever way they can. In the circumstances where your problem cannot be completely resolved on the day, we will endeavour to make you as comfortable as you can be before leaving our practice. For registered patients we offer an out of hours service. To access this you can call our practice and listen to the voicemail message for instructions. Call outs costs are at an extra fee, but for members of our dental plans this fee is completely reclaimable. This is available every day of the year and throughout the night, meaning you do not need to wait for the practice to open to receive help. For non-registered patients we are currently unable to offer out of hours assistance, but for further information on becoming registered at our dental practice please do not hesitate to call us or have a look at our website.

Dealing with chipped or knocked out teeth

If you have had an accident or sporting injury and knocked out your tooth or chipped a piece of it off, it is vital that you contact our emergency dentist in Edinburgh as soon as possible to have the highest chance of replacing your tooth or reattaching a chipped piece of tooth. Once you have made your appointment it is important that you take care of your tooth or chipped tooth correctly until you arrive at our practice, Polwarth Dental Clinic. Doing this is easy, you just need to store your tooth or chipped tooth in milk or saliva to keep it clean, making sure that you do not touch the root of your tooth as this could damage it. If your tooth easily slots back into its socket then you can place it here and bite down gently on a damp cloth, but do not try and force your tooth back into place as this could result in further damage occurring.

What if your problem cannot be resolved on the day?

At Polwarth Dental Clinic we pride ourselves on putting our patients first, and our emergency dentist in Edinburgh never goes home unless all of our appointments have been dealt with for the day. Unfortunately our practitioners will not be able to entirely resolve your issues during your same day appointment in some situations, but in these rare cases we will ensure that you are as comfortable as possible before leaving our practice and that you have your follow up appointment booked. We want you to be smiling again as soon as possible. If you have any questions or worries regarding your appointment or future treatment our friendly dental team are available for you to contact, and they will help you to the best of their abilities.

At Polwarth Dental Clinic we know how frightening it can be when a dental emergency occurs, but the fear of losing your smile is something we want to help you avoid at all costs. With same day appointments for both registered and non-registered patients, our emergency dentist in Edinburgh will do whatever they can to save your smile. We offer same day appointments as often as possible, but we recommend that you phone us as soon as you can when a problem arises so there is a higher chance of seeing you on the same day. In the situation where we are unable to resolve your issues on the same day during your appointment, we will do whatever we can to make you as comfortable as possible before leaving our practice. Registered patients or people who are visiting the area are able to book appointments Monday to Friday, but we also offer out of hours assistance for our registered patients, meaning they have access to dental advice twenty four hours a day, seven days of the week.

Never suffer in silence when it comes to tooth pain

Tooth pain can appear suddenly overnight or build up gradually over a period of time. Either way, if you feel like your tooth pain is too much to bear it is important to book an appointment with our emergency dentist in Edinburgh as soon as possible so one of our dental professionals can carry out an assessment of your mouth to try and establish the cause of your discomfort or pain. In some cases teeth can become problematic due to damage or decay, whilst in other circumstances wisdom teeth can cause people issues when they are not growing straight or you do not have enough room for them in your mouth. Accidents can occur when we least expect it and can result in a knocked out tooth or even several. These situations can be extremely daunting and stressful, but at Polwarth Dental Clinic our friendly dental team are on hand to answer any questions you have and help wherever they are able to.

What to do whilst waiting for your appointment

Whilst waiting to see our emergency dentist in Edinburgh you should make sure that you follow any advice that was given to you by one of our dental practitioners when you made your appointment. In some cases there may be nothing you can do to lessen your discomfort apart from taking pain killers, but in the situation where your tooth has fallen out you will be given important instructions to follow. You should ensure that you never touch the root of your tooth as this could damage it and prevent it from being able to be restored. When you pick your tooth up you should hold it by its crown, the white part. If you are unable to replace it easily into its socket after cleaning it in saliva or milk then you should store your tooth in milk until you arrive at our practice, Polwarth Dental Clinic. You must book an appointment as soon as possible as you have a higher chance of restoring your tooth within an hour after it has fallen out.

Having severe tooth pain can leave people feeling utterly miserable. At Polwarth Dental Clinic we cater for non-registered patients too, meaning that if tooth pain suddenly comes on and you need to be seen urgently we can help, even if you are on holiday. Our emergency dentist in Edinburgh can resolve a variety of issues for you, including things like generic tooth pain caused by decay as well as dealing with wisdom teeth removal and reattaching knocked out or chipped teeth. Keeping a knocked out tooth in milk will keep it clean until you have your appointment, but it is important that you do not touch the root of the tooth either, as this could damage it and prevent it from being able to be replaced. If you want to try and stay one step ahead of your teeth and prevent issues from arising it is important to brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day, not forgetting to use mouthwash and floss between your teeth. Whilst not all tooth related problems can be avoided, having good oral hygiene can help prevent tooth decay and abscesses from forming. 

Out of hours appointments for registered patients

At Polwarth Dental Clinic we understand that accidents and emergencies are not planned, and sometimes they can occur when our practice is not open. We know how scary it can be to have sudden tooth pain in the night and we do not want you to feel alone. Our emergency dentist in Edinburgh provides out of hours dental assistance for all of our registered patients whenever they need it, every single day of the year. It is simple to access this service, all you need to do is call our practice and listen to the instructive message on our answerphone. Whilst callouts have an upfront cost, you will be able to claim this back if you are a part of one of our several dental plans. If you are not a registered patient we cannot offer an out of hours service, but becoming a registered patient with us is easy and can be done online or over the phone. If you have any questions about our plans or treatments our dental team will be able to answer these for you.   

Offering same day appointments wherever possible

When you have an urgent dental problem it’s important to get it checked out as soon as possible to prevent any further damage from occurring. Our emergency dentist in Edinburgh offers same day appointments Monday to Friday for both registered and non-registered patients. Sometimes your issue will require more than your initial appointment to resolve, but in these cases our dental professionals will ensure that you are as comfortable as possible before leaving our practice and that your next appointment is booked so you know exactly what is going on. Your practitioner will explain the details of your treatments and the reasons why your treatment was not able to be completed during your first appointment. Whilst we offer same day appointments we do urge patients to call us as early as possible during the day to arrange an appointment to avoid disappointment.

Our emergency dentist in Edinburgh is passionate about resolving your tooth dilemmas. It can be daunting visiting the dentist, but at Polwarth Dental Clinic our friendly team will do whatever they can to put you at ease during your emergency appointment. Whether you need a tooth removed or replaced, or you are experiencing extreme pain, our team of professionals is ready to resolve your problems to the best of their ability. If you think you need dental advice urgently contact our practice and we will arrange an appointment for you as soon as possible. The sooner you contact us the more likely you are to prevent any further damage from taking place. Some people get confused about when they need to contact us at Polwarth Dental Clinic as they are unsure of whether they are really having an emergency, but there are no strict guidelines on what an emergency consists of and our dental professionals resolve an array of emergencies every day.

Resolving a variety of issues every day

From knocked out teeth and severe tooth pain to wisdom teeth removal and abscesses, our emergency dentist in Edinburgh is ready to help you in whatever way they can. Sometimes people wake up with severe tooth pain and are unsure of the causes. It is important to visit our dental practice as soon as possible so one of our dental practitioners can assess your teeth and investigate any causes of your pain. Sometimes wisdom teeth can grow through at an angle, causing infection or putting extra pressure onto your other teeth, resulting in severe discomfort. In cases where our dental practitioners cannot resolve your issue on the same day, they will endeavour to make you as comfortable as possible before leaving our practice.

If you have knocked your tooth out or a bit has been chipped off then it is important that you store your broken tooth in saliva or milk until you arrive at our practice for treatment. This will ensure that the tooth stays clean and free from damage, giving you a higher chance of having it reattached. If your tooth has been knocked out and you are able to place it back into its socket, do so with care and do not force it, making sure that you only touch the crown of your tooth and not the root. Touching the root of your tooth can cause additional damage to it and prevent it from being reattached.

Non-registered patients welcome

At Polwarth Dental Clinic, our emergency dentist in Edinburgh provides the possibility for non-registered patients and people who are visiting the area to book an emergency appointment Monday to Friday during working hours. The earlier you call during the day, the earlier we will be able to arrange an appointment for you. In circumstances where your issue cannot be resolved on the same day we will ensure that you are as comfortable as possible before leaving our practice. Unfortunately we cannot offer emergency assistance out of hours for non-registered patients, but if you would like to register this is something you can do at our practice, over the phone or through our website.