Any dental emergency, such as an injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment later on. Dental emergencies are classed as:

• Toothache or swelling that suggests an infection of a tooth or gum
• Severe toothache or facial pain which is not controlled by taking over-the-counter painkillers
• Trauma of the face, mouth or teeth after a recent accident or injury
• A permanent tooth being knocked out
• Bleeding after tooth extraction that you cannot control
• Serious swelling of mouth or face which is getting worse