Toothache is one of the most unpleasant and unexpected health problems. It can keep you awake at night, interfere with your daily activities, and force you to seek help immediately, regardless of your plans. Unlike routine dental visits — such as cleaning, fillings, or prosthetics — there are situations where treatment cannot wait.
For these cases, emergency dental care is available. Its purpose is to relieve pain quickly, stop infection, and prevent serious complications. In Estonia, emergency dental services are organized and funded by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa), which ensures that both insured and uninsured adults can access urgent care.
In this article, we will cover:
- what emergency dental care means,
- when to seek urgent help,
- what services are included,
- and how to access emergency dental care in Estonia.
What Is Emergency Dental Care?
Emergency dental care (Estonian: Vältimatu hambaravi) refers to a set of dental procedures aimed at relieving acute pain, controlling infections, or preventing serious health risks.
The key feature is urgency: the patient receives treatment immediately, because delaying it could lead to permanent damage or even life-threatening complications.
Important to know: In Estonia, emergency dental care is available free of charge to all adults — regardless of whether they have health insurance. However, Tervisekassa only covers services provided by clinics that have an official contract with them.
When Should You Seek Emergency Dental Care?
Many patients are unsure whether their condition qualifies as urgent or if they can wait for a regular appointment. The following conditions are officially considered emergencies.
Situations Requiring Emergency Dental Care
- Dental trauma. For example, after a fall, accident, or sports injury. A tooth may fracture, shift, or be completely knocked out. Immediate care increases the chances of saving the tooth.
- Severe swelling of the face or jaw. This can indicate infection or an abscess. Left untreated, the infection can spread to other tissues and threaten overall health.
- Inability to open the mouth. This may be caused by inflammation, abscesses, or jaw joint problems.
- Inflammation caused by erupting wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth often cause complications: gum inflammation, pain, fever, or abscess formation.
- Infection after tooth extraction. If pain, swelling, or pus appears days after extraction, urgent care is needed.
- Acute diseases of the salivary glands. These are usually accompanied by swelling, pain, and fever.
- Tooth dislocation (luxation). A loose or displaced tooth should be repositioned quickly to preserve it.
- Uncontrolled bleeding. If bleeding continues or is severe, a dentist must intervene and place sutures.
Ignoring these symptoms can result in severe consequences: widespread infection, tooth loss, sepsis, or life-threatening complications.
What Services Are Included in Emergency Dental Care?
Tervisekassa clearly defines which procedures are covered as part of emergency dental care. These services are free of charge for both insured and uninsured adults.
List of Covered Services
- Patient examination and consultation. The dentist assesses the situation, makes an initial diagnosis, and determines the treatment plan.
- Surface anesthesia (topical anesthetic applied to mucosa). Used for minor procedures requiring only superficial numbing.
- Injection anesthesia. Local anesthesia administered by syringe, used for extractions and other invasive procedures.
- Extraction of a single-rooted tooth. Typically incisors or canines.
- Extraction of a multi-rooted tooth. Usually molars, which require more complex removal.
- Extraction of severely broken or deeply decayed tooth. Especially when the tooth is partially below the gumline.
- Incision and drainage of abscesses. Relieves pain and infection by draining pus.
- Treatment of traumatic wounds. For injuries to soft tissues after accidents or falls.
- Repositioning of a dislocated tooth. Immediate repositioning can save the tooth.
- Stopping bleeding with sutures. Necessary after trauma or surgery if bleeding does not stop.
- Post-surgical follow-up (control visit). The dentist monitors healing and prevents complications.
- Removal of a tooth or implant with partial bone removal. A more complex surgical procedure.
- Single-tooth X-ray. Helps confirm diagnosis and plan treatment.
- Panoramic X-ray (whole jaw). Provides a complete overview in complicated cases.
All of these services are designed to provide urgent relief, stabilize the patient’s condition, and prevent further damage to oral and overall health.
How to Access Emergency Dental Care in Estonia
There are two important rules to remember:
- You must visit a clinic that has a contract with Tervisekassa.
Otherwise, you will have to pay for the treatment yourself. - Both insured and uninsured adults are entitled to emergency care.
This means that even without insurance, you have the right to free urgent treatment if you go to a partner clinic.
Steps to Follow
- Find the nearest clinic that is a Tervisekassa partner.
- Call ahead to check if they accept emergency patients.
The dentist is obliged to provide emergency treatment if the situation poses a risk to health or life.
Practical Tips for Patients
- Do not postpone your visit. Toothache or swelling rarely disappear on their own. Delay can worsen the condition and increase risks.
- Avoid self-treatment. Antibiotics, painkillers, or home remedies may provide temporary relief, but they cannot replace professional dental care.
- Understand the difference between emergency and planned care. Mild tooth sensitivity to cold or pain when chewing may not require emergency care but still needs timely dental attention.
- Be prepared for your visit. Bring identification documents, information about medications you take, and describe all your symptoms clearly to the dentist.
Tervisekassa ensures that all adults — whether insured or uninsured — receive help for acute pain, swelling, bleeding, or injuries.
The key is not to wait. By visiting a Tervisekassa-contracted clinic in time, you can protect not only your teeth but also your overall health.
