In short: Keep any crown or fragment, rinse it with water only, and do not glue it back yourself. Call us on 0211 570025 — we keep time free every day for acute cases. Outside our hours, the central dental emergency service in Düsseldorf is available without an appointment: 0211 157 60 900, Florastraße 36. With swelling plus fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, go to a hospital emergency department instead.
Dental emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time, and the first hours often decide how much can be saved. This page is short on purpose.
Call us first
0211 570025. Say that it is urgent — we keep time free every day for acute cases. We speak German, Spanish, English and Portuguese, so you do not have to describe pain in a second language.
Crown, bridge or inlay came off
- Keep it. Bring it in a small container; it can often be refitted
- Rinse with water only. No scrubbing, no cleaning tablets, no disinfectant
- Do not glue it back. Superglue and craft adhesives damage the tooth and often make a proper refit impossible
- Keep brushing the exposed tooth gently but thoroughly. An unprotected stump decays quickly
- Avoid chewing on that side, and avoid very hot, cold and sweet food
Filling fell out
The approach is the same: keep the area clean, spare that side, book an appointment soon. A lost filling does not need to be kept — it is not reused. Do not wait because it does not hurt; a root-treated tooth can deteriorate without any pain signal.
Tooth knocked out or broken
For a knocked-out permanent tooth, time is critical. Hold it by the crown, never the root. Do not scrub it or wipe the root clean. Keep it moist — a tooth rescue box from a pharmacy is best, otherwise cold UHT milk, or in the mouth between cheek and gum for an adult who is conscious. Do not use water. Get to a dentist immediately; reattachment is realistic within a short window.
For a broken tooth, keep any fragment in the same way and come in quickly. Sharp edges cutting the tongue count as urgent.
Severe pain or swelling
Call the same day if you have strong or throbbing pain, swollen gums, a sharp edge injuring your tongue, or a broken bridge with loose parts in the mouth.
Go to a hospital emergency department, not a dental practice, if swelling is combined with fever, difficulty swallowing, difficulty opening the eye, or any difficulty breathing. Those indicate a spreading infection and are treated as a medical emergency.
Out of hours in Düsseldorf
The central dental emergency service (Zentraler Zahnärztlicher Notdienst) covers nights, weekends and public holidays without an appointment: 0211 157 60 900, Florastraße 36, 40217 Düsseldorf. Bring your insurance card. For medical rather than dental emergencies, the nationwide on-call number is 116 117; for life-threatening situations, 112.
Painkillers, briefly
Over-the-counter ibuprofen or paracetamol at the dose stated on the package can bridge the wait. Avoid aspirin before dental treatment where possible, as it increases bleeding. But if ASA has been prescribed to you, for your heart for instance, do not stop it on your own — tell us and we plan around it. Never place a tablet directly on the gum — it burns the tissue. And take note: painkillers hide the symptom, they do not treat the cause.
Frequently asked questions
Can I be seen the same day?
We keep time free every day for acute cases. Call 0211 570025 and say it is urgent.
What if it is Sunday or a public holiday?
The central dental emergency service in Düsseldorf operates without an appointment: 0211 157 60 900, Florastraße 36.
I am a visitor with foreign insurance. Can you treat me?
Yes. Bring your EHIC card if you have one, or your insurance documents. For acute pain we treat first and settle the administration afterwards.
Can my old crown be refitted?
Often yes, if it is undamaged and the tooth beneath is sound. If decay has formed on the stump or the crown is fractured, a new one is made.
This article provides general information and does not replace a dental examination. Medically reviewed by Dr. F. J. Rodríguez Ruíz, MSc., dentist at A+ Dental, Düsseldorf-Oberkassel.