Dental emergency in Rabat

How to reach us in an emergency

During opening hours, call the practice directly on 05 37 67 43 48 (+212 5 37 67 43 48), or send a message on WhatsApp to +212 6 10 34 37 27. Briefly describe the situation: pain, swelling, fever, a broken or knocked-out tooth. The team will assess how urgent it is and offer you a suitable appointment.

Practice hours:

• Monday to Friday, 9 am to 7 pm;
• Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm;
• closed on Sunday.

Outside these hours, call the landline or leave a detailed WhatsApp message, with a photo if possible: the practice will get back to you as soon as it can. In the meantime, follow the first steps below.

The practice is on the corner of avenue de France and avenue Ibn Sina, in Agdal, near Clinique Agdal.

When to go straight to hospital emergency

Some situations are not for a dental practice but call for immediate medical care. Go to a hospital emergency department without delay or call 141 (SAMU) if you have:

• significant swelling of the face or neck that spreads quickly, closes the eye or extends below the jaw;
• difficulty breathing or swallowing, or you cannot open your mouth;
• a high fever with chills and a general feeling of being unwell;
• a facial injury with loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding that will not stop, or a suspected fractured jaw.

A dental infection that spreads can become serious. In these cases, do not stay at home alone waiting for an appointment.

Toothache: what to do while you wait

A throbbing pain that wakes you at night and gets worse when you lie down often points to inflammation of the tooth's nerve. Until you can be seen:

• take a standard painkiller, following the leaflet and your own contraindications strictly;
• never place an aspirin tablet against the gum: it causes a chemical burn;
• sleep with your head slightly raised;
• avoid very hot, very cold or sugary foods on the painful side;
• do not take antibiotics without a prescription.

The pain may settle on its own, but that does not mean the problem is solved: the nerve can die and the infection can keep developing. You still need an appointment, and root canal treatment is often what allows the tooth to be saved.

Dental abscess and a swollen cheek

An abscess shows up as swelling of the gum or cheek, a tooth that hurts when touched or when chewing, and sometimes a small pimple of pus on the gum or a bad taste in the mouth.

What to do:

• apply cold (an ice pack wrapped in a cloth) to the cheek for short periods;
• never apply heat, as it can help the infection spread;
• do not try to burst the abscess yourself;
• rinse gently with warm salt water;
• see a dentist quickly, the same day if possible.

Treatment first aims to drain the infection and remove its cause, usually the infected tooth. An antibiotic may be prescribed depending on the situation, but on its own it is not enough. If the swelling spreads, makes swallowing difficult or comes with a fever, go to a hospital emergency department.

Broken or cracked tooth

After a fall, a knock or biting on something hard, a tooth can fracture:

• Small chip of enamel: often painless, it can wait for a prompt appointment. Cover a sharp edge with a little orthodontic wax or sugar-free chewing gum to protect your tongue.
• Larger fracture, with sharp sensitivity to cold or air: the dentine, or even the nerve, is exposed. See a dentist the same day.
• Red spot or bleeding in the middle of the break: the nerve is exposed. This is an emergency.

If you find the fragment, keep it in a little water or milk: it can sometimes be bonded back on. Rinse your mouth with cold water and apply cold if your lip is swollen.

Tooth knocked out: what to do

A permanent tooth that has come completely out of its socket is one of the few true emergencies where every minute counts. The chances of saving it fall the longer it stays out of the mouth.

1. Find the tooth and hold it by the crown (the visible white part), never by the root.
2. If it is dirty, rinse it for a few seconds in cold water or milk, without scrubbing, and without soap or disinfectant.
3. If the person is conscious and cooperative, try to put it back in its socket, the right way round, then have them bite gently on a tissue.
4. If that is not possible, keep it in milk or, failing that, in saliva (in a small container). Never let it dry out and do not put it in tap water.
5. Call the practice immediately or, outside opening hours, go to an emergency department.

Important: a knocked-out baby tooth should not be put back, as this could damage the permanent tooth developing underneath. Still have it checked so the surrounding tissues can be examined. For children, see also the children's dentist page.

Other common situations

• Loose crown or filling: keep the crown, avoid chewing on that side and book an appointment soon. Do not glue it back with household glue.
• Bleeding after an extraction: bite firmly on a folded gauze pad for about twenty minutes, without rinsing or spitting. If it continues despite this, contact the practice.
• Painful wisdom tooth with swollen gum: gentle mouth rinses, cold, and an appointment to assess whether an extraction should be considered.
• Brace or wire causing a sore: cover the tip with wax and get in touch with the practice.

Once the emergency is over, a follow-up appointment treats the underlying cause and helps prevent it from happening again. You can also book an appointment online for anything that is not urgent.