Out Of Hours.  Helpful advice and frequently asked questions.  What to do if you are in pain.   If you have pain without facial swelling you can purchase painkillers from a chemist.  Always take advice from the pharmacist and inform them of current medication or medical conditions you may have.  Avoid hot/cold/hard foods which may exacerbate the pain. Contact your dentist for treatment. Swelling is often an indication of an abscess or infection.  If the swelling is severe/ you feel sick/have a temperature/ or the swelling is affecting your swallow or breathing you should attend your local casualty department urgently.  Loose/dislodged crown or bridge.  Do not replace the crown with super glue!  If the crown is at the back of your mouth remove it and keep safe until you attend your dentist . If the crown is at the front of your mouth you can buy temporary cement from some chemists.  It is not advisable to eat or sleep with the crime retained by temporary cement.  What to do if your denture breaks. Keep the section ( sections) carefully as it may be possible to repair the denture using the existing pieces.  It may be necessary for the dentist to take an impression and send a broken denture to a laboratory for repair.  If your mouth bleeds after an extraction.  If the socket is just oozing gently with blood, apply pressure to the socket for 15-20 minutes.  Use a clean handkerchief/gauze to form a firm pad. Place this over the socket and bite as firmly as possible for  15-20 minutes . If the socket is bleeding heavily or persistently you need urgent attention.  Apply pressure to the socket as mentioned above and attend the local Casualty Department. What to do if you have a broken tooth.  If the broken tooth is due to a fall or trauma and you are concerned about other injuries, go immediately to the Hospital Casualty Department.  If the tooth has broken while eating or due to a lost filling it may have sharp edges which cut into the tongue or cheek.  It may also be sensitive to hot and cold. Avoid food/drinks which make the discomfort worse. Some chemists have temporary filling pastes that can be placed in the broken tooth to reduce pain and irritation. What to do if a tooth is knocked out. Do not re-implant first or baby teeth. If the adult tooth is knocked out it is important to re-implant the tooth immediately. Hold the tooth by the crown, not the pointed root. Do not scrub or touch the root-rinse the tooth with water or milk. Gently push the tooth back into the socket-make sure it is the correct way around. Bite on a clean handkerchief to hold the tooth in place. Attend your dentist or hospital emergency department immediately. If you can’t put the tooth back in, place it in a cup of milk and-don’t let it dry out. Emergency contacts. Tel: 028…………….. for out of hours arrangements.  We will do our best to see genuine emergencies within 24 hours.  Telephone the practice first thing in the morning ( 08:45) to arrange an appointment. In the evenings, weekends and public holidays we participate in the local area emergency dental clinic.  Local Area Dental Clinic.   This is held in Ballymena Dental Care Clinic each evening from 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm.  There are additional sessions each Saturday and Sunday morning ( and during selected holiday periods) from 9:30am until 12:30pm.  The service is for genuine emergencies only, such as:   Trauma Swelling Bleeding Severe pain                                      Click for details below. You must not attend without telephoning them first.  If you normally pay for your dental treatment there is a charge at this clinic.