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.

At Polwarth Dental Clinic, we understand that when it comes to your teeth, it’s not just about the regular dental check-ups and professional cleanse, it’s about having an emergency dentist in Edinburgh that you can rely on whenever you need them. We understand that when tooth pain strikes, you need to be seen as soon as possible to eradicate any pain and discomfort you’re feeling as well as to prevent any further damage from arising. The earlier you phone us at Polwarth Dental Clinic the earlier we will be able to arrange an appointment for you. We offer emergency appointments to both patients that are registered with us and non-registered patients, meaning you can get an appointment in an emergency even if you don’t live in the area. 

Same day appointments for a variety of issues

When you experience tooth pain or have damaged a tooth, it is important to contact our emergency dentist in Edinburgh as soon as you can so they can arrange for you to come into our practice on the same day. Sometimes tooth pain will come on gradually and other times it will be incredibly sudden. If you feel that your tooth pain is getting worse, or you feel that there is an underlying cause that needs to be addressed, it is time to phone us. If it is not possible to see you on the same day we will endeavour to do whatever we can to help and book you an appointment for as soon as possible.

We deal with an array of issues here at Polwarth Dental Clinic and can assist with tooth removal, restoration, abscesses, infections, swelling and inflammation as well as, generic tooth pain. Wisdom teeth can also cause problems if they are not growing through straight, as they can put pressure on your other teeth or cause infection. If we are unable to resolve your emergency on the same day, our dental professionals will do as much as they can to relieve you of pain and improve your circumstances before you leave our practice.    

What if your tooth pain starts in the middle of the night?

Our emergency dentist in Edinburgh is available during normal working hours, Monday to Friday. At Polwarth Dental Clinic we are aware that a dental emergency isn’t planned and can happen at any time, so we offer a convenient out of hours service for all of our registered patients. To get advice all you need to do is call our practice and the answerphone message will provide instructions for how to access our on call dentist. There is a callout fee, however you can claim this back afterwards if you are part of one of our member plans. The callout service is available every day of the year, making it easy for you to seek dental advice when you need it most, be it in the middle of the night or on the weekend. Unfortunately we do not offer an out of hours service for non-registered patients, but it is easy to register through our practice.

If you have ever had a severe toothache you will know how uncomfortable it can make life, you will also know that it can strike at any time and often comes with little or no warning. In some cases, you may feel the need to contact a dentist as soon as possible.

Polwarth Dental Clinic is an emergency dentist in Edinburgh that understands the discomfort caused by toothache. We know many patients find that the pain of toothache impacts every aspect of their daily lives. Disrupting their sleeping patterns and limiting their ability to eat are just two of the common impacts on daily life that are widely reported from the sufferer.

Historically people suffering from tooth pain have found it difficult to access treatment straight away, due to a lack of dental practices being willing to offer emergency dental services, meaning anyone needing this type of service may struggle and be left in pain for some time.

Polwarth Dental Clinic wants to make it possible for everyone to access an emergency dentist in Edinburgh without the need for any delay, as this can help speed up the process of delivering treatment to the patient.

Whether you are a registered patient, non-registered patient, or a visitor, we believe you should be able to contact an emergency dentist in Edinburgh with ease, we are only a quick phone call away making it effortless and simple for you to access the treatment you require.

When you contact Polwarth Dental Clinic to make an emergency dental appointment, we will aim to offer you an appointment on the same day. We would ask you to keep in mind this may not always be possible, but we will try our best to get your treatment started as soon as we possibly can.

If we find that the treatment you need is more complex, meaning it may need you to have another appointment after the emergency consultation, we will endeavour to make sure you are pain-free before leaving the clinic.  We want to make you as comfortable as possible at the emergency appointment, minimising the impact of the toothache on your life where we can.

If you are a registered patient and you find you need to see an emergency dentist outside of our normal working hours, please call the clinic and listen to the answering machine.  Here you will find instructions that will help you get the service you need in an emergency. Our out of hours emergency dental service is available to all registered patients 365 days a year, you do not have to be in pain any longer than necessary.

If you are a visitor to the city of Edinburgh who finds they have a dental emergency, we want you to know you can contact us to gain access to the treatment you may need.

Polwarth Dental Clinic is here to help, whenever you need us. We care passionately about our work; the health of your teeth is of the utmost importance to us. If you find you are in need of our emergency dentist, do not delay, contact us straight away.

We also offer a full range of dental treatments for all the family including cosmetic dentistry, tooth whitening and implants.

If you wake up in the middle of the night with a severe toothache you may find it hard to get back to sleep. This may then lead to you developing growing concern about being able to find and access treatment as quickly as possible, this concern is compounded if you are not in your home town or city.

Polwarth Dental Clinic is here to help, we believe we are the emergency dentist in Edinburgh that can constructively meet any emergency need. We are friendly and approachable, as well as being easy to contact when you think you may need our services.

We are happy to be contacted by registered and non-registered patients, this also includes visitors to the city of Edinburgh. Giving you the peace of mind, you may need if you are visiting the city for a holiday or to go to some of the performances at the world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Whatever your reason for being in the city you now know you can find an emergency dentist in Edinburgh should you need to.

Contact the dental clinic

Should you contact us because you think you need to see an emergency dentist in Edinburgh the first thing you should do is call Polwarth Dental Clinic to discuss your symptoms and gain advice about the things you could try to ease any pain you may have. At this point, we will try to outline any ways we can help you.

If we decide you need an appointment, we will endeavour to make it on the day you contact us. We ask you to understand it may not always be possible to provide treatment to alleviate your dental emergency on the day of the first contact, however, we will be able to offer some options that will ensure you are not left in severe pain.

Should you find you need to be seen in an emergency outside our normal working hours, we can accommodate this for you. Simply ring Polwarth Dental Clinic and listen to the message on our answering machine.

These instructions will give you the steps to take to gain access to emergency dental treatment via our out of hour service, so there is no need for you to be left in an amount of pain that makes you uncomfortable.

What is a dental emergency?

All of the following should be considered dental emergencies.

1. Unexplained and sudden swelling of the gum, neck or face.
2. The knocking out of a tooth.
3. Breaking of your jaw.
4   Chipping or breaking of a tooth or teeth.
5.  Losing a filling or crown.

In all these cases we would urge you to contact our emergency dental service to gain advice and find out how to access treatment. Also please stay calm, as this allows us to clearly understand your needs and means we will be in a better position to be able to help you and offer treatment.

Polwarth Dental Clinic is here to help with great advice and targeted treatment, we are only a phone call away. If you think you have a dental emergency please contact us, there is no need to live with pain and discomfort.

We offer a full range of dental treatments for all the family including cosmetic, restorative and preventive dentistry.