Emergency Dentist in Brighton | Preston Circus Dental Practice

Experiencing severe toothache, a broken tooth or swelling around your gums? Preston Circus Dental Practice provides dental care in Brighton. If you have a dental emergency during our opening hours, contact us as soon as possible so our team can advise you on the next steps.

Need urgent dental help?

Call 01273 605 199 during practice opening hours to discuss your symptoms and appointment options.

Preston Circus Dental Practice is located at 4 Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton, BN1 4JJ.

What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

Dental problems can develop suddenly or become more painful over time. Some symptoms need urgent assessment to help manage pain, address infection or reduce the risk of further damage.

Contact a dentist urgently if you experience:

Severe or persistent toothache: Pain that is intense, does not settle or affects sleep and everyday activities.
Dental swelling or a suspected abscess: Swelling around a tooth or gum, facial swelling, a bad taste in your mouth or pain accompanied by a fever.
A knocked-out adult tooth: Seek dental care immediately, as time can be important.
A broken or cracked tooth: Especially if there is significant pain, bleeding or damage to the inside of the tooth.
A lost filling, crown or bridge: Particularly if it causes pain or leaves the tooth vulnerable.
Bleeding after dental treatment or an injury: Especially if the bleeding does not stop.
An injury to your teeth or mouth: Following a fall, accident or impact.

If you are unsure how urgent your symptoms are, contact the practice for advice. Do not wait for a routine check-up if you have severe or worsening symptoms.

What Should I Do in a Dental Emergency?

The right action depends on the problem. These steps may help while you arrange professional advice.

Severe Toothache

Contact a dentist, particularly if the pain is persistent or severe. Keep the area clean and avoid foods or drinks that make the pain worse. A pharmacist can advise whether an appropriate painkiller is suitable for you.

Toothache may have several causes, so a dental examination is needed to identify the problem and determine the appropriate treatment.

A Broken or Chipped Tooth

Arrange a dental assessment. If you can find the broken fragment, keep it in milk or saliva and take it with you to the appointment. Avoid biting down on the damaged tooth until it has been assessed.

A Knocked-Out Adult Tooth

Seek emergency dental care immediately. Handle the tooth by its crown rather than the root. If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk, saline or saliva, without scrubbing it.

If possible, and without forcing it, place the adult tooth back into its socket. Otherwise, keep it in milk or saliva and get urgent dental help. Do not attempt to reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth.

Swelling or a Suspected Dental Abscess

Contact a dentist urgently if you have swelling around a tooth or gum, particularly if you also have severe pain or a fever. A dental abscess needs professional treatment and will not resolve on its own.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you have severe swelling affecting your breathing or swallowing, heavy bleeding that will not stop, or a serious facial or jaw injury. Do not wait for a dental appointment in these circumstances.

Emergency Dental Care Outside Opening Hours

If you need urgent dental advice when the practice is closed, use an appropriate urgent dental service.

You can contact NHS 111 online or call 111 for advice about urgent dental care if you cannot access the help you need from your usual dentist.

The practice also lists the following out-of-hours contacts:

Dental Helpline: 0300 1000 899
Emergency Dental Service: 0300 024 25 48

Please confirm the availability and current details of these services before relying on them.

Our usual opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, and Saturday, 9am to 1pm by appointment only. We are closed on Sundays.

What Happens at an Emergency Dental Appointment?

The dentist will assess your symptoms, examine the affected area and may recommend an X-ray if needed. They will explain the likely cause of the problem and discuss the appropriate treatment.

Depending on the findings, treatment may involve managing the source of pain or infection, repairing a damaged tooth, replacing a lost restoration or arranging further treatment.

Not every emergency can be fully resolved in one appointment. In some cases, the initial priority is to relieve symptoms and stabilise the problem before completing treatment at a later visit.

The treatment and cost will depend on your individual circumstances. Ask the practice about any applicable examination fees and treatment costs when you contact us.