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Dentista Angola

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Dental emergency guide

Pain does not wait. Neither do we.

Clear step-by-step for the eight most urgent dental problems. Read calmly, act with confidence, and always seek a dentist afterwards.

Call 112

Important notice

This information is general guidance. It does not replace medical or dental consultation. If you have doubts or symptoms worsen, seek professional care immediately.

Jump to:

Broken or chipped tooth

Had a knock and part of the tooth broke? Stay calm — simple steps protect what remains.

urgent 24h
  1. 1 Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area.
  2. 2 If bleeding, apply cold gauze with gentle pressure for a few minutes.
  3. 3 If you found the broken piece, store it in milk or saline solution (not tap water).
  4. 4 Avoid eating on the affected side.
  5. 5 See a dentist within 24 hours.
When to call 112
  • Bleeding that does not stop after 15 minutes of pressure.
  • Blow to the head with loss of consciousness, vomiting, or dizziness.
  • Suspected jaw or maxilla fracture.
Call 112

Avulsed tooth (knocked out whole)

The tooth came out completely. Time is critical — ideally under 30 minutes for reimplantation to be possible.

immediate emergency
  1. 1 DO NOT rub the root of the tooth — the root cells are fragile.
  2. 2 Pick up the tooth by the crown (white part), never by the root.
  3. 3 Rinse gently with water or milk — do not use soap or detergent.
  4. 4 If you can, reposition the tooth in the socket and bite on gauze to hold it.
  5. 5 If you cannot reposition it, store it in MILK or saline — NEVER in tap water.
  6. 6 See a dentist IMMEDIATELY. Every minute counts.
When to call 112
  • Multiple avulsed teeth.
  • Blow with loss of consciousness.
  • Uncontrollable heavy bleeding.
Call 112

Severe toothache

Throbbing pain that will not stop? It may be nerve inflammation or beginning infection. Relieve, but do not delay the visit.

urgent 48h
  1. 1 Rinse with warm salt water (one teaspoon of salt in a glass of water).
  2. 2 Use dental floss to remove food debris that may be pressing.
  3. 3 Take a simple painkiller such as paracetamol, following the dose on the label.
  4. 4 DO NOT apply aspirin directly on the gum — it can burn the tissue.
  5. 5 Apply a cold compress on the face, on the painful side, in 15-minute periods.
  6. 6 Avoid very hot, very cold, or very sweet foods.
  7. 7 See a dentist within 24 to 48 hours.
When to call 112
  • Pain combined with high fever (>38.5°C).
  • Swelling spreading to the neck or closing the eye.
  • Difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Call 112

Abscess or severe swelling

Swelling with pus, fever, strange taste in your mouth? It may be an abscess — an infection that can spread. Do not wait.

immediate emergency
  1. 1 Recognise the URGENCY sign — abscesses can evolve quickly.
  2. 2 Rinse gently with warm salt water.
  3. 3 DO NOT apply heat to the face — heat worsens the infection.
  4. 4 DO NOT squeeze the swelling to release pus — it spreads the infection.
  5. 5 Keep hydrated and rest.
  6. 6 Seek medical or dental care IMMEDIATELY.
  7. 7 In Luanda: go to the nearest hospital or call 112 if there is high fever or swelling making breathing difficult.
When to call 112
  • Swelling that makes it hard to open the mouth or swallow.
  • High fever with chills.
  • Swelling extending to the eye or neck.
  • Breathing difficulty.
Call 112

Oral bleeding after extraction

Prolonged bleeding after a tooth extraction is normal in the first hours — but certain steps help control it.

urgent 24h
  1. 1 Bite firmly on a clean rolled gauze over the socket for 30 to 45 minutes without removing it.
  2. 2 If needed, replace the gauze and bite for another 30 minutes.
  3. 3 DO NOT rinse forcefully in the first 24 hours — it dislodges the clot.
  4. 4 Keep your head elevated, even while sleeping (use two pillows).
  5. 5 Avoid physical exertion, alcohol, tobacco, and hot drinks in the first 24 hours.
  6. 6 If heavy bleeding persists beyond 1 hour, contact the dentist who did the extraction.
When to call 112
  • Heavy bleeding soaking multiple gauzes within minutes.
  • Feeling of weakness, dizziness, or fainting.
  • People on anticoagulants with bleeding that does not stop.
Call 112

Jaw or maxilla fracture

After a strong blow, does the jaw hurt, not close properly, or do the teeth not fit as before? Hospital emergency.

hospital emergency
  1. 1 HOSPITAL EMERGENCY — do not try to treat at home.
  2. 2 Gently immobilise the jaw with a tie, scarf, or cloth tied over the head (bandage-style).
  3. 3 Apply a cold compress on the face to reduce swelling.
  4. 4 DO NOT try to straighten anything or force the mouth closed.
  5. 5 Keep the person calm, seated with the head slightly forward to avoid swallowing blood.
  6. 6 Go IMMEDIATELY to the hospital or call 112.
When to call 112
  • Always — jaw fracture is a hospital emergency.
  • Especially with loss of consciousness, vomiting, or breathing difficulty.
Call 112

Bitten tongue or lip

Accidents happen — a bite can look frightening because of the blood, but most can be managed at home.

urgent if severe
  1. 1 Clean the area gently with water or saline.
  2. 2 Apply gauze or clean cloth with firm pressure for 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. 3 Apply a cold compress on the outside of the lip or cheek to reduce swelling.
  4. 4 Avoid eating or drinking very hot beverages in the following hours.
  5. 5 If the cut is deep (more than 5 mm), crosses the lip on the red border, or bleeding does not stop, seek medical care.
When to call 112
  • Bleeding that does not stop after 20 minutes of pressure.
  • Deep cut crossing the lip.
  • Suspected animal bite.
Call 112

Object stuck between teeth

Something stuck between the teeth — a fish bone, meat fibre, sugar-cane fibre? Go slowly to avoid hurting the gum.

low
  1. 1 Use dental floss with gentle bottom-to-top movements.
  2. 2 DO NOT use needles, sticks, forks, or pointed objects — you may injure the gum or break the tooth.
  3. 3 Rinse with warm water to loosen the object.
  4. 4 If it does not come out, see a dentist — they have proper, safe instruments.
When to call 112
  • Choking with breathing difficulty.
  • Object in the throat blocking breathing.
Call 112

On-call clinics in Luanda

List of dental clinics with emergency service outside business hours. Coming soon in your area.

The clinic list will be updated soon.
I run an on-call clinic — I want to be on this list

Reference hospitals

For hospital emergencies (jaw fracture, severe infections, trauma), go to the nearest general hospital. In Luanda, reference hospitals include Hospital Josina Machel (Maria Pia) and Hospital Américo Boavida.

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