A toothache at midnight. A broken tooth during lunch. A child who falls and knocks out a tooth at school.
Dental emergencies never happen at a convenient time — and most patients in Rajshahi do not know whether to rush to a hospital, call a dentist, or simply wait. This guide tells you exactly what to do, step by step, so you protect the tooth and manage the pain before you reach the clinic.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
See a dentist the same day if you have any of the following:
- Severe, throbbing toothache that does not ease with normal painkillers
- A knocked-out (avulsed) tooth from an injury or fall
- A badly broken or cracked tooth with exposed nerve
- Facial or jaw swelling — especially with fever (possible dental abscess)
- Uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth after a tooth extraction
- Jaw pain or inability to open or close your mouth fully
- A lost crown or filling causing intense sensitivity
If you are in Rajshahi or the Laxmipur area and unsure, WhatsApp your symptoms to 01767094564 — you will get a quick response from Dr. Kamrul Hridoy's team on whether you need same-day treatment.
What to Do in the Most Common Dental Emergencies
Severe Toothache
Rinse with warm salt water and take Paracetamol or Ibuprofen at the correct dose. Apply a cold compress to your cheek — never heat, which worsens swelling. Sudden, severe toothache often signals nerve infection requiring a root canal; do not delay by treating it as a regular headache.
Broken or Chipped Tooth
Rinse gently, apply clean gauze if bleeding, and cover any sharp edges with dental wax (available at pharmacies). Save any large broken pieces and bring them to the clinic. If the break exposes a yellow or pinkish inner layer, it is urgent — the nerve is affected.
Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
You have 30–60 minutes to save it. Pick up the tooth by the crown (not the root), rinse briefly under clean water without scrubbing, and place it back in its socket if possible — or keep it in cold milk or saliva. Get to an oral surgeon in Rajshahi immediately. Do not wrap it in tissue; this kills the root cells needed for re-implantation.
This applies to permanent teeth only. Knocked-out baby teeth are not re-implanted.
Dental Abscess or Jaw Swelling
A dental abscess causes constant throbbing pain, swelling, bad taste, and sometimes fever. Take Ibuprofen and rinse with warm salt water, but do not treat this with antibiotics alone — the infection needs to be drained by a dentist or oral surgeon. If swelling is spreading toward your neck or you have difficulty swallowing, go to the hospital emergency department immediately.
Lost Filling or Crown
Usually not a same-day emergency unless pain is severe. Avoid eating on that side, use temporary dental cement from a pharmacy, and call your dentist within 24 hours for a same-day or next-day appointment.
What NOT to Do
- Do not put aspirin directly on a tooth or gum — it burns soft tissue
- Do not ignore swelling — dental infections spread quickly
- Do not stop worrying if pain subsides suddenly — a tooth that stops hurting can mean the nerve has died; treatment is still needed
- Do not use superglue or household adhesives on a broken tooth
Why Seeing an Oral Surgeon Matters for Emergencies
Many dental emergencies — jaw trauma, spreading abscess, impacted wisdom tooth removal, complex tooth extraction — require surgical management. A general dentist handles many dental needs, but for cases involving infection, facial swelling, or bone and tissue trauma, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is the appropriate specialist.
Dr. Md. Kamrul Hassan Hridoy — BMDC Reg. No. 10526
A qualified Oral and Dental Specialist & Surgeon with postgraduate training in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics. Patients across Rajshahi and Laxmipur trust Dr. Kamrul Hridoy for same-day dental emergency treatment — including complex surgical cases.
Reach Dr. Kamrul Hridoy for a Dental Emergency
Want to know more before your visit? See all treatments offered by Dr. Hridoy, read about the doctor, or find the clinic in Laxmipur, Rajshahi.