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Checklists

By Sakhr A. Murshid Al-Kubati, PhDClinical review: pendingLast reviewed 21 Oct 2026

Simple checklists you can use with patients. Each item comes from a cited source. They support, not replace, clinical judgement.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. It does not replace a check by a dentist or doctor. If you are worried, contact a dental professional.

Advice for a patient phoning about a knocked-out adult tooth

Handle by the crown only; do not touch the root.
If dirty, rinse gently in milk, saline or saliva.
Re-implant if possible; bite on a clean cloth.
If not possible, store in milk or saliva.
Attend a dentist immediately.
Never re-implant a baby tooth.

Red flags with toothache: send to emergency care

Swelling around the eye or in the neck.
Swelling causing difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking.
Difficulty opening the mouth or a lot of swelling inside it.

Mouth ulcer: refer for assessment if

Present longer than 3 weeks.
Unusual compared to previous ulcers (larger, or near the back of the throat).
Bleeding, or increasingly painful and red.

Also on this site: Questions to ask before buying a dental AI tool.

Related: Patient handouts

Sources

Paraphrased in plain words. Links checked and accessed 21 Oct 2026.

NHS (UK). “Knocked-out tooth”. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/knocked-out-tooth/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
NHS (UK). “Toothache”. https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/toothache/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
NHS (UK). “Dental abscess”. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dental-abscess/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
NHS (UK). “Mouth ulcers”. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-ulcers/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).