If you’ve just been seen at our Edgware clinic for a dental emergency — or you’re about to be — the hardest part is usually over. The pain is under control, you know what caused it, and you’re holding a written plan for what happens next. This guide explains that next part: what to expect in the hours and days after an emergency dental appointment, how to look after the tooth we’ve just treated, and how to make sure you’re never caught out like this again.
The first few hours after your appointment
Most emergency treatments involve local anaesthetic, so your lip, cheek or tongue may stay numb for a few hours afterwards. Until the feeling comes back fully, be careful eating — it’s surprisingly easy to bite your cheek without noticing. Stick to soft foods and lukewarm drinks, and chew on the other side of your mouth where you can.
Some tenderness once the anaesthetic wears off is normal, especially after an extraction or the first stage of root canal treatment. Over-the-counter pain relief taken as directed on the packet is usually enough — your dentist will tell you at the appointment if anything more is needed. If you’ve been prescribed antibiotics for an infection, finish the full course even if you feel better after a day or two.
Your written treatment plan — what it actually means
At Toothi, every emergency appointment ends with a written plan. Nothing on it is a surprise cost — each item is quoted before anything is done. It usually covers two things: what we did today to get you out of pain, and what’s needed to fix the problem properly.
That second part matters, because a lot of emergency dentistry is deliberately a first stage. It solves today’s crisis, but the tooth still needs finishing:
- Temporary filling or dressing — a temporary material protects the tooth for weeks, not years. It needs replacing with a permanent white filling before it wears or leaks.
- First-stage root canal — if we opened the tooth and dressed the nerve to stop the pain, the root canal treatment still needs completing, and the tooth often needs a crown afterwards to protect it long term.
- Extraction — once the socket has healed, it’s worth talking about replacing the tooth. Leaving a gap can let neighbouring teeth drift over time. Options range from a bridge or denture to a dental implant, and there’s no pressure to decide on the day.
- Recemented crown or veneer — if the same crown keeps coming loose, the tooth underneath may need attention, so do mention it if it happens again.
Looking after your mouth in the first 24–48 hours
The advice varies slightly depending on your treatment, and we’ll always give you specific instructions — but these general rules help most people:
- Keep the area clean. Gentle brushing around (not on) a healing site, and from 24 hours after an extraction, warm salt-water rinses after meals.
- Avoid very hot drinks, alcohol and smoking for the first day or two — all of them slow healing.
- After an extraction, don’t rinse vigorously or poke the socket on day one. The blood clot that forms is part of healing.
- Eat soft food and avoid chewing directly on a temporary filling or freshly recemented crown for the first day.
When to get back in touch straight away
Most recoveries are uneventful, but call us on 020 3148 2444 if pain gets worse rather than better after two to three days, if swelling increases, if bleeding won’t stop with gentle pressure, or if a temporary filling or crown comes out. If you ever develop swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, or you have uncontrolled bleeding, go to A&E — that’s one of the few dental situations where hospital is the right place.
Why finishing the treatment plan is worth it
It’s very human: the pain stops, life takes over, and the follow-up appointment slips. But the problem that caused your emergency — decay reaching the nerve, a crack, an infection — doesn’t usually disappear because the symptoms have. Completing the plan while the fix is straightforward is almost always simpler and less costly than waiting for a second emergency with the same tooth.
Every item on your plan is quoted in writing first, our full price list is on our fees page, and 0% finance is available on treatment over £250 — so cost never needs to be the reason a tooth stays half-fixed.
From emergency patient to Toothi patient
Many of the people we see as emergencies have never visited us before — and a lot of them stay. There’s no obligation, but if you don’t currently have a regular dentist, it’s worth knowing what registering with Toothi looks like:
- Routine check-ups that prevent emergencies. Most dental emergencies start as small, painless problems that a check-up catches early — long before they become a weekend toothache.
- Weekend opening. We’re open Saturdays and Sundays, which makes routine appointments realistic if you work Monday to Friday. (We’re closed on Fridays.)
- One team that knows your history. If you’ve had an emergency with us, your X-rays and notes are already here — your follow-up and future care carry on seamlessly.
- Everything under one roof in Edgware. From hygiene visits to implants and cosmetic treatment, at 1 Handel Parade, Whitchurch Lane, a short walk from Edgware station.
Registering is simple — see our new patients page, use our contact page, or just mention it at your follow-up appointment.
Frequently asked questions
How long will my tooth hurt after emergency treatment?
Some tenderness for a few days is normal, and it should ease day by day. Pain that gets worse after two to three days, or new swelling, isn’t part of normal healing — call us on 020 3148 2444 so we can check the tooth.
How long does a temporary filling last?
Temporary materials are designed to protect a tooth for a few weeks while you arrange permanent treatment. They gradually wear and can leak, so it’s best to book the permanent filling or next treatment stage promptly rather than waiting for it to fail.
Do I have to have the follow-up treatment at Toothi?
No — your written plan is yours, and you’re free to take it to any dentist. Most patients find it easiest to continue with us because the diagnosis, X-rays and notes are already done, and every item is quoted in writing before we start.
What does follow-up treatment cost?
It depends on what the tooth needs, which is why everything is quoted individually in writing first. Our current price list is published on our fees page, and 0% finance is available on treatment over £250.
I lost a tooth — how soon should I think about replacing it?
There’s no need to decide immediately, and the socket needs time to heal first. It’s worth having the conversation within a few months, though, because neighbouring teeth can slowly drift into a gap over time. We’ll talk you through bridges, dentures and implants so you can choose what suits you.
Can I register with Toothi as a regular patient after an emergency visit?
Yes — many of our regular patients first came to us in pain. Just mention it at your appointment or visit our new patients page, and we’ll take care of the rest. We’re open weekends, so check-ups fit around work.
In pain now, or need to book your follow-up? Call us on 020 3148 2444 or visit our emergency dentist page — same-day emergency appointments are £65, including weekends.
