In brief
- Most mouth problems can wait until your own dentist is open.
- A knocked-out permanent tooth: put it back or store it in milk, and see a dentist within an hour.
- Trouble breathing or swallowing, or a fast-growing swelling of the neck: call 112.
How urgent?
Three levels of urgency
Can wait
Mild sensitivity, a small chipped corner without pain, a loose filling without symptoms. Make a normal appointment.
Contact soon
Ongoing toothache, a swollen cheek, a knocked-out or very loose tooth. Call your dentist or the dentist on duty the same day.
Emergency
Difficulty swallowing or breathing, a fast-growing swelling of the neck or floor of the mouth, high fever. Call the GP out-of-hours service (huisartsenpost) or 112.
What to do
What to do if…
- A tooth is knocked out: hold it by the crown, store it in milk and see a dentist within an hour. Do not put back a baby tooth.
- You have severe toothache: an ordinary painkiller can help for now; have the cause checked soon, especially with swelling or fever.
- A tooth socket keeps bleeding after an extraction: bite firmly on a clean gauze or tea bag for 30 minutes. If it keeps bleeding heavily, call.
- Your cheek is swollen: a swelling that grows fast or comes with fever or trouble swallowing needs urgent care.
Where to go
Who should you contact?
For most dental problems the dentist is the right place: your own dentist, or outside office hours the dentist on duty (tandartsenspoeddienst) in your region. For general medical emergencies, or if you cannot reach anyone, contact the GP out-of-hours service (huisartsenpost).
Call 112 if you have trouble breathing, a fast-swelling neck or floor of the mouth, or signs of a serious spreading infection.
Getting help
When should you see a dentist?
Make an appointment if
- your symptoms are not getting worse; it can wait until your own dentist is open
Call your dentist straight away if
- the pain is unbearable, even with painkillers
- your cheek or gum is swollen, or you have a fever
- a permanent tooth has been knocked out
- bleeding after an extraction does not stop after firm pressure with gauze
Short of breath or unable to swallow? Call 112.
Outside office hours, call the dental emergency service (tandartsenspoeddienst) in your area. Your own dentist’s voicemail or website gives the number.
More information
Read more in Dutch
This is a short English version. The full page, with more detail and sources, is available in Dutch: Nederlandse versie.