Emergency Dentist UK: When to Go, Costs, and How to Get Urgent Dental Care

Last updated: December 2025. This guide covers emergency dental care across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, including current NHS costs.

Dental emergencies can happen at any time, and knowing what to do can mean the difference between saving or losing a tooth. This comprehensive guide explains when to seek emergency dental care, how to access urgent NHS treatment, what it costs across the UK, and step-by-step guidance for common dental emergencies.

What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

Not all dental problems require emergency care. Understanding what qualifies as an emergency helps you get the right treatment at the right time.

True Dental Emergencies (Seek Immediate Care)

These situations require urgent attention within hours:

Life-Threatening Emergencies (Call 999 or Go to A&E)

Call 999 immediately or go to A&E if you have:

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing due to swelling in your mouth, lips, throat, or neck
• Severe facial swelling that's spreading or affecting your eyes
• High fever with dental infection (temperature above 38.5°C)
• Heavy bleeding that hasn't stopped after 15 minutes of applying pressure
• Head or facial injury causing loss of consciousness, vomiting, or double vision

"Oro-facial swelling that is spreading (with or likely to cause airway or intracranial compromise) requires clinical triage within 60 minutes." — NHS England, Clinical Guidance: Unscheduled Urgent and Non-Urgent Dental Care

What Is NOT a Dental Emergency

These situations can wait for a regular appointment:

• Chipped tooth without pain — See your dentist during normal hours
• Broken dentures — Contact your dentist for repair
• Mild toothache that responds to painkillers — Book a routine appointment
• Lost filling with no pain — See your dentist within a few days

"You should be offered urgent dental treatment within 24 hours or 7 days, depending on your symptoms." — NHS, How to Find an Emergency or Urgent NHS Dentist Appointment

How to Get Emergency Dental Care: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Assess the Severity

Is it life-threatening? If you have difficulty breathing, severe swelling affecting your airway, or signs of sepsis, call 999 or go straight to A&E.

Is it urgent but not life-threatening? Proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Contact Your Registered Dentist

If you're registered with a dentist:

• Call your practice — They have a duty of care to provide treatment
• Check their voicemail for out-of-hours instructions
• Most practices reserve emergency slots for registered patients

"Your dentist is obliged to see you in case of dental emergency within 24 hours of being contacted." — NHS, Emergency Dentist Information

Step 3: Call NHS 111 or Use 111 Online

If you don't have a dentist or can't reach yours:

1. Call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk
2. NHS 111 will assess your symptoms
3. You'll be transferred to the Dental Triage team
4. A dental nurse will evaluate your case
5. If eligible, you'll be offered an urgent appointment

Important: Urgent Dental Care centres require an NHS 111 referral. You cannot simply walk in without an appointment.

Step 4: While Waiting for Your Appointment

For pain relief:

• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen as directed
• Ask a pharmacist for advice on managing symptoms
• Avoid extremely hot, cold, or sweet foods

For a knocked-out tooth:

1. Hold the tooth by the crown (white part) — never touch the root
2. If dirty, rinse gently in milk, saline, or your own saliva
3. Try to place it back in the socket
4. If you can't reinsert it, store in milk or saliva
5. Seek emergency care within 1 hour

Never put a baby tooth back in — this could damage the developing adult tooth underneath.

Emergency Dental Costs Across the UK

England: NHS Emergency Treatment (From April 2025)

Key points:

• You pay one band charge per course of treatment, even if multiple visits are required
• If you need further treatment within 2 months in the same or lower band, you don't pay extra
• Emergency treatment that requires multiple appointments still costs just £27.40

"NHS dental charges in England increased by 2.35% on 1 April 2025." — NHS BSA, NHS Dental Charges from 1 April 2025

Wales: NHS Emergency Treatment

Bonus in Wales:

• Free check-ups for under-25s and over-60s
• Approximately 50% of people receive NHS dental treatment for free

Scotland: NHS Emergency Treatment

Scotland uses a different system:

Northern Ireland: NHS Emergency Treatment

Cost Comparison Summary

Who Qualifies for Free NHS Dental Treatment?

Many people are entitled to free emergency dental care. Check if you qualify:

Automatic Exemptions

Benefit-Based Exemptions

You qualify for free NHS dental treatment if you receive:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Universal Credit (if you meet the earnings threshold)

HC2 and HC3 Certificates

HC2 certificate (full help):

• Free NHS dental treatment
• Apply through the NHS Low Income Scheme (HC1 form)

HC3 certificate (partial help):

• Pay a reduced amount
• Certificate states your maximum contribution

"It's your own responsibility to check that you're entitled before claiming free dental treatment. If you claim free treatment that you're not entitled to, you could have to pay a penalty charge of up to £100." — NHSBSA, Free NHS Dental Treatment

Why A&E Is Not the Answer for Most Dental Emergencies

It might seem logical to go to A&E for a dental emergency, but hospitals have significant limitations:

What A&E Cannot Do

• No dental equipment — Most hospitals don't have dental chairs, drills, or extraction tools
• No dentists on staff — A&E doctors aren't trained in dental procedures
• Cannot save your tooth — They can't perform root canals or re-implant teeth
• Limited treatment — Usually just painkillers and possibly antibiotics

"Hospitals do not usually have a dentist on staff, and often lack the equipment and expertise to save or restore your teeth. If your situation is not life-threatening, the A&E staff will likely prescribe antibiotics or painkillers, and tell you to visit your dentist." — The 24/7 Dentist

When A&E IS Appropriate

Go to A&E only if you have:

• Airway compromise — Swelling affecting breathing or swallowing
• Severe facial trauma — Major injury to face, jaw, or head
• Uncontrolled bleeding — Hasn't stopped after 15 minutes of pressure
• Signs of sepsis — High fever, confusion, rapid heartbeat with dental infection

The Scale of the Problem

"In 2022, there were over 100,000 attendances at A&E for dental problems, which is a clear indicator of the system's failure to provide preventative care." — Commons Library, How Does Access to NHS Dentistry Compare Across Areas in England?

Regional variations:

• South West: 1 in 460 people attended A&E for dental problems
• London: 1 in 860 people attended A&E for dental problems

Common Dental Emergencies: What to Do

Knocked-Out Adult Tooth

Time is critical. You have approximately 1 hour for the best chance of saving the tooth.

Immediate steps:

1. Find the tooth and pick it up by the crown only (the white biting surface)
2. Never touch the root — this damages cells needed for reattachment
3. If dirty, rinse briefly in milk or saline — not water
4. Try to place it back in the socket, biting gently on a clean cloth
5. If you can't reinsert it, store in milk or keep in your cheek (in saliva)
6. Get to a dentist within 1 hour

Do not:

• Scrub or clean the tooth vigorously
• Let the tooth dry out
• Attempt to reinsert a baby tooth
• Wrap the tooth in tissue paper

Severe Toothache

When to seek urgent care:

• Pain that affects sleep or daily activities
• Pain not controlled by over-the-counter painkillers
• Pain accompanied by swelling or fever

Self-care while waiting:

• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen as directed
• Avoid very hot, cold, or sweet foods
• Rinse with warm salt water
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek

Dental Abscess

A dental abscess is a collection of pus caused by bacterial infection. It will not heal on its own.

Warning signs:

• Severe, throbbing pain
• Swelling in your face or gums
• Red, tender gums
• Bad taste in your mouth
• Fever or feeling generally unwell

What to do:

1. Contact your dentist or call NHS 111 immediately
2. Take painkillers as directed
3. Do not put aspirin directly on the gum
4. Rinse with warm salt water

Go to A&E if:

• Swelling is affecting your breathing or swallowing
• You have a high fever (above 38.5°C)
• Swelling is spreading to your eye or neck

Broken or Lost Filling

Is it urgent?

• Yes — if causing severe pain or exposing sensitive tooth structure
• No — if minimal discomfort, can wait for regular appointment

Temporary measures:

• Pharmacies sell temporary filling materials
• Avoid chewing on that side
• Keep the area clean

Bleeding After Extraction

Some bleeding after tooth removal is normal, but seek urgent care if:

• Bleeding continues after 15-20 minutes of firm pressure
• Blood is flowing freely rather than oozing
• You're spitting out large blood clots

First aid:

1. Bite firmly on a clean gauze pad or cotton wool
2. Apply continuous pressure for 15-20 minutes
3. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or drinking hot liquids
4. Sit upright rather than lying flat

The Reality of Accessing Emergency Dental Care

While NHS guidelines state you should receive urgent care within 24 hours to 7 days, the reality can be challenging.

Current Challenges

"When local Healthwatch teams in the North East conducted mystery shopping calls to urgent services, volunteers made up to 15 calls without finding any available urgent care." — Healthwatch, What Are People Telling Us About Urgent Dental Care?

Statistics:

• NHS 111 dental enquiries were 20% higher in July-September 2025 compared to the previous year
• 97% of new patients are unable to access NHS dental care
• 10% fewer adults saw an NHS dentist in 2025 compared to 2019

Positive Developments

Government commitment (2025/26):

• 700,000 additional urgent dental care appointments committed
• Urgent dental care incentive scheme running until March 2026
• Major contract reforms announced December 2025

Regional improvements:

• New Urgent Dental Access Centres (UDACs) in the North East
• Plans to expand network across the region

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I knock out a tooth?

Pick up the tooth by the crown (white part), never touching the root. If dirty, rinse briefly in milk. Try to place it back in the socket, or store in milk or saliva. Seek emergency dental care within 1 hour — this gives the best chance of saving the tooth.

Can I go to A&E for a dental emergency?

Only if your situation is life-threatening: severe swelling affecting breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or signs of sepsis. For other emergencies, contact your dentist or call NHS 111 — they can direct you to an emergency dental service.

How much does emergency dental treatment cost on the NHS?

In England, emergency treatment costs £27.40 (Band 1). In Wales, it's £30 (Band 4). In Scotland and Northern Ireland, you pay 80% of the treatment cost up to a maximum of £384. Many people qualify for free treatment.

What counts as a dental emergency?

True emergencies include knocked-out teeth, severe uncontrolled pain, dental abscesses with swelling, and uncontrolled bleeding. A chipped tooth without pain or broken dentures can usually wait for a regular appointment.

Can I get emergency dental care if I'm not registered with a dentist?

Yes. Call NHS 111 or use 111.nhs.uk. They can arrange an urgent appointment at an NHS emergency dental service, regardless of whether you're registered with a dentist.

Why won't my GP help with a dental emergency?

GPs are not trained or equipped to provide dental treatment. They cannot examine your teeth properly, perform procedures, or prescribe appropriate dental treatment. Always contact a dentist or NHS 111 for dental emergencies.

How long should I wait before seeking emergency dental care?

For a knocked-out tooth, seek care within 1 hour. For severe pain, abscess, or uncontrolled bleeding, seek care within 24 hours. For issues like lost fillings without severe pain, you can often wait a few days for a routine appointment.

What if I can't find an emergency dentist?

Keep trying. Call NHS 111, who can help locate available services. If you have a genuine life-threatening emergency (difficulty breathing, severe facial swelling), go to A&E. Consider private emergency dentists as a last resort — they typically offer same-day appointments but at higher cost.

Key Takeaways

1. Know the difference between a true emergency and an urgent issue that can wait
2. Call NHS 111 if you can't reach your dentist — they can arrange emergency care
3. Knocked-out teeth need treatment within 1 hour for the best outcome
4. A&E is not equipped for dental treatment — only go for life-threatening emergencies
5. NHS emergency care costs £27.40-£30 — check if you qualify for free treatment
6. Store knocked-out teeth in milk — never let them dry out
7. Dental abscesses won't heal on their own — always seek professional treatment

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Need to find an emergency dentist near you? Use our dental practice finder to locate NHS and private dentists in your area who can help with urgent dental problems.