Extra urgent dental appointments now available
If you need urgent dental care for any of the following conditions, you can book an urgent appointment by visiting NHS 111 on the NHS app, online at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 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 at: NHS.uk/urgentdentalcare
You can also phone one of the dental practices offering additional urgent appointments. You do not need to be registered with the dental practice but you must contact them in advance.
Frequently asked questions
- How can I get an appointment? – You can get an urgent appointment via the NHS app, online at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.
- What can I have an urgent appointment for? – You can have an appointment for the conditions listed earlier on this webpage.
- Do I need to be registered with the practice? – No, you do not need to be registered with an NHS dental practice to have an urgent appointment.
- Why are there no practices near me? – We are planning to make more urgent appointments available across south east London over the coming weeks. Please keep checking our website for the list of participating practices.