General Dentistry · Emergency Care · Last reviewed May 2026
Tooth Pain in Vietnam? Same-Day Help
at Every Branch.
Every Picasso Dental branch holds emergency slots open every day for tooth pain, abscess, broken teeth and lost crowns. WhatsApp +84 989 067 888 reaches the team any time. Diagnostic exam. English-speaking dentists at every branch.
If You Are in Pain Right Now,
Skip Reading and Phone Us.
Call Us Now
Send a photograph of the problem. We will triage you to the nearest branch with availability today and confirm pricing in writing before you arrive.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
If any of these apply to you, contact us today. Acute dental infection does not improve on its own and untreated abscess can spread quickly.
Severe Persistent Toothache
Especially throbbing pain, pain that wakes you up at night, or pain that does not respond to standard over-the-counter painkillers. This is the textbook sign of acute pulpitis or developing infection.
Visible Swelling
Swelling of the gum, face or jaw is a likely abscess. Do not delay. Spreading facial infection from a tooth is rare but serious. Contact us today.
Broken or Knocked-Out Tooth
For a knocked-out adult tooth, keep it moist in milk or saliva and see us within 2 hours for the best chance of re-implantation. See the first-aid steps below.
Lost Crown or Filling
If a crown, veneer or large filling has come off and the underlying tooth structure is exposed, the tooth is vulnerable to fracture and sensitivity. Re-cementing on the same day prevents bigger problems.
Bleeding That Will Not Stop
Bleeding from the gum or socket that continues after 20 minutes of firm pressure with a clean gauze or cloth needs to be reviewed today.
Trauma to the Jaw or Mouth
After a fall, sports injury or accident, even when no tooth is obviously damaged. Cracked teeth and root fractures are not always visible without imaging.
What Is Probably Not a Same-Day Emergency
Honest version. These should still be reviewed soon, ideally within the next week, but they do not need a same-day emergency slot.
Mild Sensitivity to Cold
Brief sharp sensation when drinking cold water or eating ice cream, that settles within seconds. Often a worn enamel or exposed root surface issue, not an emergency.
Intermittent Mild Gum Irritation
Gum that gets a bit sore around one tooth then settles, with no swelling and no severe pain. Book a hygiene visit and we will look at it.
Food Trapped Between Teeth
Painful when present but resolves once the food is removed. Indicates a worn or broken contact point, worth reviewing soon but not today.
Slightly Chipped Tooth, No Pain
A small enamel chip with no sensitivity and no rough edge cutting your tongue. Smooth the edge with a fingernail file if needed and book a routine visit.
Not sure which category you are in? WhatsApp +84 989 067 888 with a photograph and we will tell you.
Knocked-Out Tooth: First Aid in the Next Hour
For an adult tooth knocked completely out of the socket. Speed and storage matter. The single most important thing is to keep the root cells alive on the way to us.
1. Pick It Up by the Crown
Hold the white chewing part of the tooth, never the root. Touching the root surface damages the cells we need to re-attach to bone.
2. Rinse Gently if Dirty
Rinse with milk or saline if the tooth is dirty. Do not scrub, do not use soap, do not dry it. Most of the time it does not need rinsing at all.
3. Try to Reposition Into the Socket
If you are comfortable, gently push the tooth back into its socket the right way around and bite gently on a clean cloth or gauze on the way to us. This is the best storage medium of all.
4. If You Cannot Reposition, Store in Milk
Store the tooth in cold milk, in your own saliva (cheek pouch if you can do so safely without swallowing it), or in a tooth-preservation kit such as Save-A-Tooth.
5. Get to a Dentist Within 1 Hour
Re-implantation success drops sharply after the first hour out of the socket. Phone +84 989 067 888 on the way so we are ready when you arrive.
6. Do NOT Store in Tap Water
Tap water is hypotonic and damages the periodontal ligament cells on the root surface. Milk, saliva, or saline only.
Abscess First Aid Until You Get to Us
If you have visible swelling around a tooth, or a known infected tooth that is suddenly very painful, here is what helps and what to avoid in the hours before your appointment.
Warm Salt Water Rinses
Half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, rinse and spit several times a day. Reduces bacterial load and is soothing.
Ibuprofen for Pain
Standard adult doses (e.g. 400mg, with food) are very effective for dental pain unless you have a contraindication (ulcer, kidney disease, certain blood thinners, late pregnancy). Paracetamol can be combined safely.
Avoid Biting on the Tooth
Chew on the other side. Pressure on an infected tooth is sharply painful and can drive infection deeper.
Cold Compress, Not Heat
Use a cold pack on the cheek over the swelling. Do NOT apply heat to the face for a dental abscess: heat encourages the infection to spread outward into the soft tissue of the face.
Do Not Lance the Abscess Yourself
A pimple-like bump on the gum is the body trying to drain the infection. Drainage at the clinic is straightforward; home attempts are not. Wait for us.
When to Go to Hospital, Not the Clinic
If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling closing your eye, or fever with rapid spread of facial swelling, go to a hospital emergency department immediately. These are rare but serious. Our Da Nang Vinmec branch sits inside a 24/7 hospital.
Emergency Pricing
Transparent pricing for the procedures we use most often in emergency visits. Final quote depends on diagnosis after exam and imaging, and is given in writing before any treatment starts.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Emergency examination + diagnostic | |
| Panoramic X-ray (OPG) | |
| CBCT 3D (if needed) | |
| Pulpotomy (immediate pulp pain relief) | |
| Re-cement crown / inlay | |
| Re-cement porcelain veneer | |
| Temporary filling | |
| Drainage of abscess | 800,000 – 1,500,000 |
| Simple extraction | from 100,000 |
| Surgical extraction | from 1,500,000 |
| Root canal: incisor / canine | |
| Root canal: molar |
Definitive restoration (permanent crown, implant, denture) is quoted separately after acute pain is controlled.
By Branch: Where to Go
All six Picasso Dental branches handle dental emergencies. The flagship Old Quarter line below reaches the central team and routes you to the nearest available branch.
Hanoi Old Quarter (Flagship)
Central Hanoi. Fastest route to triage. Same-day emergency slots held daily.
Hanoi Westlake
Tay Ho expat district. See /contact/ for the direct branch line.
Da Nang Hoà ng Diệu
Central Da Nang. See /contact/ for the direct branch line.
Da Nang Vinmec Hospital
Inside a 24/7 hospital site, useful for severe facial swelling or out-of-hours trauma. See /contact/ for the direct branch line.
HCMC Thảo Äiá»n
Ho Chi Minh City expat district. See /contact/ for the direct branch line.
Da Lat Link General Hospital
Inside Link General Hospital, Da Lat. See /contact/ for the direct branch line.
What to Bring
None of this is mandatory, we will see you regardless, but it speeds up triage and keeps the visit short.
Previous X-Rays or Records
From a recent dentist if you have them. A photo on your phone is fine, no need to print anything.
List of Medications
Especially blood thinners, bisphosphonates, immunosuppressants and any allergies. A photo of pill bottles works.
Dental Insurance Card
If you have one. We can produce itemised receipts and treatment letters in English for reimbursement claims.
ID or Passport
For first-time patients, basic identification for the patient record.
Who Will See You
Emergency cases are triaged to the next available senior dentist at the nearest branch.
Dr. Thao Tran
General Dentist. Senior clinician handling acute pain, broken teeth, lost restorations and routine restorative emergencies.
Dr. Nhung Duong
General Dentist. Senior clinician handling acute pain, pulpotomy, temporary restorations and emergency triage.
Dr. Emily Nguyen
Founding Clinical Director. Sets the clinical standards for emergency case selection, surgical protocols and prosthetic delivery group-wide.
Common Questions
How do I know if my tooth pain is a real dental emergency?
Treat it as an emergency if you have severe persistent pain that wakes you up or stops you eating, visible swelling of the gum, face or jaw, a knocked-out or broken tooth, a lost crown or filling exposing nerve, bleeding that will not stop after 20 minutes of pressure, or trauma after a fall or accident. WhatsApp us on +84 989 067 888 with a photograph and we will tell you whether you need to come in today.
Can you see me today?
Every Picasso Dental branch holds emergency slots open every day for genuine dental emergencies. Message +84 989 067 888 on WhatsApp or call your nearest branch and we will fit you in the same day where clinically possible.
Do I need to fly home for my pain?
In almost all cases, no. Picasso Dental treats expat and tourist dental emergencies every week across our six branches in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat. Our dentists speak English, our pricing is transparent, and acute pain relief (pulpotomy, drainage, temporary filling, re-cementation) can usually be delivered the same day for a fraction of what you would pay at home.
Will I be charged extra at night or on the weekend?
There is no after-hours surcharge during published opening hours at any Picasso branch. After-hours options vary by branch. The Da Nang Vinmec Hospital site sits inside a 24/7 hospital. For other branches, WhatsApp +84 989 067 888 with the issue and a photograph and the team will route you to the fastest option.
What if my child has a dental emergency?
Children with dental trauma, severe pain or facial swelling are treated as priority. A knocked-out baby tooth is generally not re-implanted (we will not push it back into the socket because it can damage the developing adult tooth), but a knocked-out adult tooth in an older child should be brought to us within an hour, stored in milk. Bring the child and the tooth, and message us on the way. See also our children's dentistry page.
What if I am an expat without dental insurance?
Most emergency visits in Vietnam are paid out of pocket and are still much less expensive than equivalent care in Australia, the UK or the US. Diagnostic exam is, panoramic X-ray, pulpotomy, re-cementing a crown. We give you a written quote before treatment so there are no surprises.
Can I take painkillers before my appointment?
Yes. Standard adult doses of ibuprofen (e.g. 400mg, with food) are appropriate for most dental pain unless you have a medical reason not to take them (stomach ulcer, kidney disease, certain blood thinners, late pregnancy). Paracetamol can be combined safely. Avoid aspirin if you are bleeding. Do not place aspirin or other tablets directly on the gum, it causes a chemical burn.
How fast can a knocked-out tooth be saved?
For an adult tooth, re-implantation success drops sharply after the first hour out of the socket. The single most important thing you can do is keep the tooth moist (in milk, saliva, or a Save-A-Tooth kit, never in tap water) and get to a dentist within 60 minutes. Pick the tooth up by the white crown only, never the root. If you are comfortable doing so, gently reposition it into the socket and bite on a clean cloth on the way to us.
What if I am pregnant and have severe tooth pain?
Pregnancy is not a reason to suffer with dental infection. Untreated infection is more dangerous to a pregnancy than appropriate treatment. We will use pregnancy-safe local anaesthetic, shield X-rays where needed (or defer non-urgent imaging), and choose pregnancy-compatible antibiotics if required. The second trimester is the most comfortable time for elective work, but acute pain and infection are treated whenever they occur.
Can I get IV sedation for a panic-level toothache?
Yes. Picasso offers IV sedation for severely anxious patients and for longer surgical procedures, at our hospital-partnered branches in particular. For acute pain we generally aim to relieve the pain first under local anaesthetic (which works very well once placed) and schedule sedation if a longer procedure such as surgical extraction or full root canal is needed afterwards. Tell us on WhatsApp ahead of time so we can prepare.
In Pain Right Now?
Phone the Flagship Line.
We Will Get You Seen Today.
Same-day emergency slots at all six Picasso Dental branches. English-speaking dentists. Diagnostic exam. Written quote before any treatment.