Emergency Dentist Hamburg: Where to Go at Night

Sunday, 11:47 PM. Throbbing pain in the lower jaw woke Kyrill. By morning, his cheek was swollen. No dental practice had opened. He didn't know who to call. He ended up in a hospital emergency room, waited four hours and got an antibiotic. This scenario repeats every weekend, especially among newcomers. Pain strikes at night or on weekends, the person doesn't know the system, and time is lost on the wrong logistics.

I have been a dentist for 16 years and see plenty of Kyrills. Germany has a clear Notdienst system, but 80% of migrants don't know it. Below is exactly where to call, what to say, how long to wait and what it costs. Bookmark this page, dental pain always strikes when you are least prepared.

First step: call 116 117

The first call for any dental pain outside office hours: 116 117. This is the nationwide Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst. available 24/7, 7 days a week, free of charge.

The operator assesses your case and:

• Provides the number of the on-call dentist in your Hamburg district
• Directs you to the nearest emergency point
• Calls emergency services (112) if there is a life-threatening situation

KZV Hamburg Notfalldienst

The Kassenzahnärztliche Vereinigung Hamburg (KZV) organises a rotation of on-call dentists across Hamburg. Current on-call dentists with addresses can be found on kzv-hamburg.de (Notfalldienst section) or via 116 117.

UKE: when it is more than just a tooth

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE): Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg. Tel.: +49 40 7410-0.

Emergency department for: abscesses with severe swelling, jaw fractures, facial injuries, knocked-out teeth, severe bleeding.

Knocked-out tooth: you have 30,60 minutes

1. Do not touch the root. hold by the crown only
2. Rinse briefly with cold water if dirty (no brush)
3. Store the tooth in milk, saliva, or saline
4. Call 116 117 immediately and say "knocked-out tooth"
5. Replantation within 30 minutes: 80,90% success rate

How to reduce pain before your appointment

• Ibuprofen 400,600 mg. best OTC painkiller for toothache
• Clove oil. cotton ball on the painful spot. Temporary relief (eugenol)
• Cold compress outside for swelling. 15 min on, 15 min off. No heat

What to do before the appointment: 5 situations

Concrete instructions I give patients who call at night.

Severe throbbing pain

Ibuprofen 400 mg every 6-8 hours (max 1200 mg/day). Cold compress externally for 15 min on, 15 min off. Rinse with warm salt water (½ tsp salt per glass). DO NOT apply heat, DO NOT place aspirin on the gum (chemical burn). If pain doesn't ease 4 hours after ibuprofen, call 116 117.

Lost filling or crown

Keep the crown, don't throw it away. Bring it to your appointment. For a front-tooth crown, use temporary cement (Cavit, Tempora) from the pharmacy for 5-10 €. Wait 30 minutes, then chew gently on the opposite side. Book next working day, not an emergency.

Knocked-out tooth (avulsion)

The most critical situation, 30-minute window. Pick up the tooth by the crown, never the root. If dirty, rinse 10 seconds with cold water without scrubbing. Best: re-insert into the socket and hold with the tongue. Otherwise: milk (not water!), saliva, Dentosafe solution. Call 116 117 IMMEDIATELY and say «ausgeschlagener Zahn».

Cracked or broken tooth

If a large piece broke off and you see a red dot (the nerve), don't touch it, don't eat or drink cold. Cover your mouth with your hand. That is a 116 117 emergency. If it's just a small crack without pain, you can wait until morning.

Bleeding after tooth extraction

Standard: bite on a gauze pad for 20 minutes, don't spit. If bleeding doesn't stop after 30 minutes and saliva is completely red, call the dentist who did the extraction or 116 117. Common causes: aspirin/Marcumar, high blood pressure. A cold compress on the outside helps.

On-call schedule in Hamburg

Notdienst-dentists rotate. The daily schedule is at kzv-hamburg.de and via 116 117.

Weekdays

Dentists are open weekdays 8:00-18:00 (some until 19:00). Outside these hours, the Notdienst kicks in via 116 117. If pain is strong, don't try to wait until morning.

Weekends (Saturday-Sunday)

Notdienst-dentist on call 24/7. Office hours usually 10:00-12:00 and 17:00-19:00. Outside these windows call the on-call number and the dentist decides per case.

Public holidays

Same as weekends. Notdienst-dentists work. Hamburg holidays: 1 January, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday, 1 May, Ascension, Pentecost Sunday and Monday, 3 October, Reformation Day (for HH), 25 and 26 December.

The key point

116 117 always works 24/7. Don't hesitate to call. The operator speaks German and usually English. Say «Zahnschmerzen» («toothache») and «Schwellung» («swelling») if any. They will find the nearest clinic and give you the address and time.