Your emergency dentist in Zurich
In an emergency during our opening hours you can call us at any time. Emergency appointments are possible the same day.
Outside our opening hours, SSO Zurich runs an emergency dental service: Tel. 0800 33 66 55
How to act
1. Don't panic! Take a breath and stay calm.
If, after the accident, the injured person:
- was unconscious or has amnesia
- sees double
- is vomiting or feels nauseous
- has open fractures
Seek medical help immediately!
2. If the injured person is bleeding from the mouth, stop the bleeding with a handkerchief or a compress and examine the oral cavity.
- Remove any loose or badly loosened teeth from the mouth.
CAUTION/DANGER: badly loosened or knocked-out teeth can be inhaled or swallowed.
Look for missing or knocked-out teeth and tooth fragments at the scene of the accident.
CAUTION: never touch a tooth by the root, only by the crown. Do not clean or disinfect soiled tooth surfaces for now.
3. Place the tooth and/or tooth fragment in a tooth rescue box. If none is available, transport the tooth in cold UHT milk or wrapped in cling film.
Tooth rescue boxes are usually available in schools and sports clubs. They can also be bought at any pharmacy.
4. On the way to the dentist, cool the area and keep stopping the bleeding. See a dentist without delay.
- Avoid:
- physical exertion, sport, sunbathing or visits to the sauna
- alcohol, caffeine and nicotine!
- drinks and food that are too hot or too cold
- Do not lie flat. Keep your upper body raised.
- Cool the area with cold compresses (CAUTION: no direct contact between ice and skin — risk of local frostbite).
- Over-the-counter painkillers may be taken temporarily. Avoid aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), however, as it thins the blood. Do not take painkillers immediately before your dental appointment!
If the swelling reaches your eye and the inner corner of the eye is painful under pressure…
if, besides the swelling, you have a high fever, difficulty swallowing or shortness of breath…
If the swelling means you can no longer open your mouth…
…THEN THIS IS A SERIOUS EMERGENCY!
Go to a hospital or to the nearest oral or maxillofacial surgeon immediately.
- Maintain good oral hygiene and clean thoroughly between the teeth. Also remove dentures, splints or other appliances.
- Rinse your mouth with a chlorhexidine, chamomile or sage solution.
- Avoid spicy and acidic food.
- Leave the old wound dressing in place and do not rinse your mouth with water or other rinsing solutions. The blood clot should not be washed out.
- Bite down on a clean gauze swab or a rolled-up cloth handkerchief. Keep the pressure on the wound as constant as you can. Do not open your mouth to check whether the bleeding has stopped!
- Do not lie flat. Keep your upper body raised.
- Cool the surgical area with cold compresses (CAUTION: no direct contact between ice and skin — risk of local frostbite).
- If the bleeding has not stopped after 30 minutes despite the measures above, call us or contact the emergency dental service.