Dental emergencies and toothache in Amman

What emergency dental care is and who it suits

Emergency dental care means being seen promptly for a problem that should not wait for a routine appointment. Typical examples are:

• Severe or throbbing toothache.
• Swelling of the gum or face.
• A broken, cracked or knocked-out tooth.
• Bleeding that will not settle.
• A lost filling or crown that leaves a sharp or painful tooth.

The first aim is to find the cause and ease the pain. The full treatment may happen at the same visit or later, depending on what the examination shows. That treatment might be a filling, root canal treatment, an extraction or a crown.

This kind of visit is relevant for adults, children and older people alike. Pain is a signal that something needs attention. Painkillers can make you more comfortable, but they do not treat the cause. A tooth that stops hurting after days of pain can still be infected, because the nerve inside may have died. That is why an examination matters even when the pain fades.

Signs that call for an examination — and when it is urgent

Book a prompt appointment (same or next day if possible)

• Toothache that keeps you awake, throbs, or lasts more than a day or two.
• Pain on biting, or a tooth that feels "high" or loose.
• A small swelling or a pimple-like bump on the gum, or a bad taste in the mouth.
• A chipped or cracked tooth, especially if it is sharp or sensitive.
• A lost filling or crown.
• Sensitivity to cold or heat that lingers after the drink is gone. Brief, sharp twinges that stop at once are usually less urgent, but they are still worth checking.

Knocked-out or broken tooth: what to do before you reach the clinic

• Knocked-out adult tooth: pick it up by the crown (the white part), not the root.
• If it is dirty, rinse it briefly in milk or saline. Do not scrub it.
• If you can, gently push it back into its socket and bite on a clean cloth to hold it.
• If not, keep it in milk or in the person's saliva. Do not keep it in water or let it dry.
• Get to a dentist as quickly as possible. Mainstream guidance says time matters most, ideally within the first hour.
• Knocked-out baby tooth: do not try to put it back, as this can harm the adult tooth developing underneath. Have the child examined.
• Broken or chipped tooth: rinse gently with warm water. Keep any fragments in milk or water and bring them with you. A cold compress on the cheek helps with swelling.
• Bleeding after an injury: press firmly on the area with clean gauze or cloth for 10–15 minutes.

Managing pain until your appointment

• Over-the-counter painkillers may help. Follow the package instructions or a pharmacist's advice, and check they are safe with your health conditions and other medicines.
• Never put aspirin or any tablet directly on the gum, because it can burn the tissue.
• A cold compress on the outside of the cheek can ease swelling. Avoid heat on a swollen face.
• Avoid very hot, cold or sweet food, and chew on the other side.
• Antibiotics are not a substitute for dental treatment. Do not take leftover or borrowed antibiotics.

Go to a hospital emergency department or call 911

Do not wait for a dental appointment if any of these apply:

• Swelling that is spreading across the face or neck, or towards the eye.
• Difficulty breathing, swallowing or opening the mouth.
• High fever or feeling generally very unwell with a dental swelling.
• A blow to the face or head with loss of consciousness, vomiting, confusion or a possible jaw fracture.
• Bleeding that does not stop despite firm pressure.

In Jordan, call 911 in an emergency.

How the steps usually go, from examination to follow-up

1. History: the dentist asks where it hurts, since when, and what makes it worse. They also ask about your medical conditions, medicines and allergies.
2. Examination: the teeth, gums and any swelling are checked. This may include tapping the tooth, a cold test or checking for looseness.
3. X-ray: this is often needed to see decay, infection at the root tip or a fracture line that is not visible.
4. Explanation: the dentist explains what the findings suggest and what the options are.
5. Emergency step: this depends on the case. Examples include removing decay and placing a temporary filling, or starting root canal treatment to relieve pressure. Other cases need smoothing or bonding a chipped tooth, draining an abscess, splinting a loosened or replanted tooth, or extracting a tooth that cannot be kept.
6. Follow-up: many emergencies need a second visit to complete treatment, for example finishing a root canal or placing a crown. Injured teeth often need checks over the following months.

What Arafat Dental Clinics publishes about this service in Amman

Here is what the platform record states, and nothing beyond it.

The dentist

• Experience: Dr. Mohammad Arafat Hasan practises dentistry and has 15 years of recorded experience. His background includes dental practice in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
• Education: a bachelor's degree in oral and dental medicine and surgery from Damascus University. He also lists:
• an Advanced Implantology Course with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI), 2018;
• a Clear Aligners (Invisalign) Certification from Align Technology Academy, 2020;
• a Microscope-Assisted Endodontics course with the Jordanian Academy of Dentistry, 2022.
• Languages: Arabic and English.
• Services he provides: these include dental emergencies, root canal (endodontic) treatment, oral and maxillofacial surgery, gum care, fillings, dental X-rays, children's dentistry, and care for older patients and patients with special needs.
• Conditions he treats: these include toothache, inflamed tooth nerve, dental abscess, tooth decay, gum disease and bleeding gums, broken teeth and tooth sensitivity.

The clinic

• Services for this topic: treatment of toothache, dental infection treatment, extraction of an inflamed tooth, treatment of dental fractures, and treatment of tooth sensitivity to cold. Root canal treatment is among its main services, and the clinic publishes 120 services in total.
• Background: the clinic was established in 2022.
• Verification and reviews: both the clinic and the dentist are verified by the platform. The dentist's record shows 3 approved reviews and the clinic's shows 2, each averaging 5 out of 5. That is a small number of reviews, so read them as one input among several.
• Consultation: the first consultation is listed as free. The cost of treatment depends on the examination and plan, so ask before starting.

Questions to ask the dentist before starting

• What do you think is causing the pain, and what did the X-ray show?
• Can this tooth be saved? What are the options, including doing nothing for now?
• What will you do today, and what will need another visit?
• Will I have a temporary or permanent filling or restoration today?
• Do I need antibiotics, or is treating the tooth itself enough?
• What should I expect over the next few days, and which symptoms mean I should come back?
• What will the full treatment cost, and does it change if a second visit is needed?
• For a child: does this affect the adult tooth, and what follow-up is needed?

Aftercare and realistic expectations

Some tenderness after emergency treatment is common, especially after an extraction, draining an infection or starting a root canal. Follow the dentist's written instructions.

• After an extraction: avoid rinsing hard, spitting forcefully, smoking or using a straw at first, because these can disturb the clot.
• After a temporary filling: chew on the other side until the tooth is finished.
• Keep cleaning: brush and clean gently around the area to keep it clean.
• Return promptly if pain worsens after a few days, swelling grows, a fever develops or bleeding restarts.

Outcomes vary. A replanted or cracked tooth may still need further treatment later, and not every tooth can be kept. The dentist can only advise after examining you. Regular check-ups help catch decay and cracks before they turn into emergencies.

Booking, getting there and opening hours

If you need an emergency dentist in Amman, contact the clinic first using the button on this page. Describe your symptoms so the team can advise on timing.

• Address as recorded: دوار الصحفيين، مجمع التميمي ط1 (Journalists Roundabout, Al Tamimi Complex, first floor), Tabarbour, Amman. The clinic sees patients from across Amman.
• Confirmed opening hours: Saturday to Thursday, 10:00–22:00. Friday is not listed among the confirmed hours.
• Outside these hours: for the urgent warning signs above, go to a hospital emergency department or call 911.
• What to bring: a list of your medicines and any previous dental X-rays. If a tooth was knocked out or broken, bring the tooth or fragments, stored in milk.