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Is it a dental emergency?

If it hurts badly, is swollen, is bleeding or is broken, treat it as a dental emergency. Getting urgent dental care quickly often saves the tooth, and it always saves you a night of pain.

What happens when you arrive

  1. 01Pain firstWe look at what brought you in before anything else.
  2. 02Find the causeA quick examination, and an X-ray if needed, shows whether it’s a nerve, a crack or an abscess.
  3. 03ReliefWe numb the area, then drain an abscess, clean out an infected nerve to start a root canal, place a temporary filling or splint a loose tooth.
  4. 04Plan and priceWe tell you what’s left to do, what can wait and what each option costs.
  5. 05Finish the jobWe complete the root canal, fit a crown or replace a lost tooth with an implant, all here.

Emergency dentist questions

When to get emergency dental care?

Get emergency dental care the same day if you have a toothache that painkillers won't touch, swelling in your gum, face or jaw (often a dental abscess), a knocked-out or broken adult tooth, or bleeding that won't stop. An abscess won't clear up by itself, so waiting rarely helps. If the swelling reaches your eye or neck, or you're struggling to breathe, swallow or speak, go straight to a hospital emergency department, and don't drive yourself.

What are the dental emergencies?

The usual ones are severe toothache, a dental abscess (a pocket of pus that throbs and swells), a knocked-out tooth, a broken or cracked tooth, a lost filling or crown, and bleeding after a tooth extraction. A knock to the face counts too. Not sure? Call us, describe it, and we'll tell you honestly whether you need to come in now.

Which antibiotic is best for tooth infection in Pakistan?

There isn't a best one, because antibiotics don't cure a tooth infection on their own. Treating the tooth does: draining the abscess, then a root canal or an extraction. See our dental abscess guide. Antibiotics are for infection that is spreading, with swelling or fever, or when the tooth can't be drained straight away. When one is needed, dental guidelines (SDCEP) start with a penicillin such as phenoxymethylpenicillin or amoxicillin, adding metronidazole if the infection is spreading. If you're allergic to penicillin, you need something else. Antibiotics are easy to buy over the counter in Pakistan, but leftover or shop-bought tablets can mask the pain while the infection keeps growing. Get the tooth looked at.

What is the most common emergency in a dental office?

Fainting, or vasovagal syncope. In a survey of dentists in Karachi, 71% had seen a patient faint, and a Spanish survey of 786 dentists found the same. It passes quickly once the patient lies flat. As for what brings people in, toothache from an infected nerve or an abscess is one of the most common reasons for an urgent visit.

Which is the best 24 hour dental clinic in Bahria Town Rawalpindi?

We'd say Dental Plus, and many of our patients agree. One Google review calls us the 'Best clinic in Bahria Town, Islamabad'. Whoever you choose, check three things: that they are really open at night, that a specialist can treat your problem, and that they tell you the price before they start. We're open 24/7 at 4-A Bahria Heights, Phase 4, with an MDS root canal specialist leading the team. Compare us with other clinics in our top 5 dental clinics in Bahria Town, or see how close we are on our dental clinic near me page.

How much does emergency dental treatment cost?

It depends on what's wrong. Often the first visit gets you out of pain, and the rest, like finishing a root canal or fitting a crown, comes later. We tell you the fee after we've examined you and before we start, day or night. Our guides list published Islamabad price ranges, for example for root canal treatment.

What should I do if my tooth gets knocked out?

For an adult tooth: pick it up by the white crown, not the root. If it's dirty, rinse it quickly in milk or cold water, but don't scrub it. Push it gently back into the gap and bite on a clean cloth, or keep it in milk or inside your cheek. Then come straight to us. Speed matters: a tooth left dry for about an hour is far less likely to survive. Never put a baby tooth back in. Just bring the child to us.

Should I go to a hospital or a dentist for a toothache?

A dentist, for almost every toothache. A doctor can ease the pain but can't fix the tooth. Our toothache guide explains the usual causes. Go to a hospital emergency department instead if the swelling spreads to your eye or neck, you can't open your mouth properly, or you're struggling to breathe, swallow or speak. Those are signs of a spreading infection.

Sources

We checked the medical advice on this page against these sources on 14 October 2026. It's general information, not a diagnosis. If you're worried, call us.