Dental emergency in Mallorca: where to go
A knocked out permanent tooth must be reimplanted within thirty to sixty minutes to have a good chance of surviving, and an infection with fever or difficulty swallowing requires hospital emergency care rather than a dental appointment.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- A knocked out tooth should be reimplanted within 30 to 60 minutes.
- Transport it in milk or saline, never in water and never dry.
- A private emergency consultation costs 60 € to 150 €.
- Swelling with fever or difficulty swallowing is a hospital matter.
Not every dental pain is an emergency, but three situations are, and in one of them the clock runs in minutes rather than hours.
What is urgent
A permanent tooth knocked out by an impact is the clearest and the most time sensitive. An infection with swelling spreading towards the eye or the neck, with fever or difficulty swallowing or breathing, needs hospital emergency care immediately. Severe pain unrelieved by analgesia, a fracture exposing the pulp, and bleeding that will not stop after 30 minutes of pressure also qualify.
| Situation | Urgency | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent tooth knocked out | maximum | reimplant within 30 to 60 minutes |
| Infection with fever or difficulty swallowing | hospital | emergency department at once |
| Tooth displaced by impact | high | clinic within 24 hours |
| Fracture exposing the pulp | high | clinic same day |
| Severe pain without swelling | medium | clinic within 24 to 48 hours |
| Crown or filling lost, no pain | low | routine appointment |
| Private emergency consultation | 60 to 150 € |
A knocked out tooth: the first minutes
Pick it up by the crown, never by the root. If it is dirty, rinse it for 10 seconds in saline or milk without scrubbing. If possible, put it back in its socket and bite gently on gauze to hold it. If not, transport it submerged in milk, saline or the patient's own saliva. Never in water and never dry: water destroys the ligament cells within minutes and with them the chance of reimplantation.
Where to go on the island
For infection with general signs, the hospital emergency department. For everything else, a private clinic with an out of hours service, concentrated in Palma and in the main resort areas during the season. Distances matter: from the north of the island to the capital is 45 to 60 kilometres and 45 to 70 minutes by car, which is significant when the reimplantation window is an hour.
For that reason, with a knocked out tooth the priority is to reimplant or submerge it on the spot, not to drive with it wrapped in a tissue.
While you get there
Cold applied outside the cheek in 10 minute intervals, never heat, which accelerates infection. Usual analgesia within the stated dose. Head elevated when resting. And nothing applied directly to the gum or the tooth: household remedies in contact with the mucosa frequently cause chemical burns that complicate the treatment that follows.
Frequently asked
+What do I do if a tooth is knocked out?
Hold it by the crown, do not scrub the root, and reimplant or submerge it in milk or saline within an hour.
+Can I keep it in water?
No. Water destroys the ligament cells and prevents reimplantation. Use milk, saline or saliva.
+When is it a hospital matter?
With spreading swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or bleeding that will not stop.
+What does an emergency consultation cost?
Sixty to one hundred and fifty euros for the consultation, before any treatment carried out.
+Can a lost filling wait?
Yes, if there is no pain or marked sensitivity it can be dealt with at a routine appointment.
Sources
- 1Ministerio de Sanidad, Gobierno de España (August 2026)
- 2Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)