If you think you need urgent care, contact your usual dentist if you have one.
You can also contact NHS 111, who will put you in touch with an urgent dental service. Do not contact a GP as they cannot offer urgent or emergency dental care.
If you are in pain while waiting to see a dentist, take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
NHS 111 can also offer other self-care advice.
When to go to hospital
Only go to A&E if you have:
- Heavy bleeding
- Injuries to your face, mouth, or teeth
- Severe swelling, or increasing swelling of your mouth, lips, throat, neck, or eye
If you are not sure whether you should go to A&E, contact NHS 111, who will be able to advise you.
When to seek urgent dental care
If you need urgent dental care for any of the following conditions, you can be signposted to a dental practice which offers urgent NHS appointments via NHS 111 online or by phoning 111.
- Severe toothache: persistent and intense pain that cannot be managed with over-the-counter painkillers.
- Dental abscess: infection causing swelling, pain, and possibly fever.
- Broken or knocked-out tooth: trauma resulting in a fractured or completely dislodged tooth.
- Bleeding in mouth following a dental procedure or an injury that doesn’t stop by itself but can be self-controlled using local measures. Note that if bleeding cannot be self-controlled in any way, emergency care may be necessary.
- Swelling: significant swelling in the mouth or face that could indicate an infection.
- Fractured, loose or displaced fillings causing pain.
- Severe bleeding from gums, or acute conditions affecting other soft areas of the mouth (such as cheeks or tongue) which require urgent treatment.
Other treatments may be available at the discretion of the dentist. These treatments may require extra visits and costs.
More information on urgent dental conditions is available on the NHS website.
How much will I be charged?
The urgent dentist will only treat your urgent dental problem and reduce any pain.
Emergency or urgent dental treatment costs £27.40, unless you’re entitled to free NHS dental treatment.
If you are asked to return for further treatment, this will be considered a separate course of non-urgent treatment.
If you are not entitled to free NHS dental treatment, you will need to pay the relevant charge for the new course of treatment.
Ask the dentist about the cost of the treatment and if you can have a treatment plan.
Learn about NHS dental treatment costs