Emergency dentist: how to get seen today
The NHS route, the private route, what each costs, and the three situations where A&E is the right call.
Dental emergency right now?
Call NHS 111 (or use 111 online) if you cannot get hold of a dentist. They can book an urgent NHS appointment, cost £27.90.
Go to A&E for swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, bleeding that will not stop after 20 minutes of pressure, or a facial injury.
The NHS route
- Your own dentist first. NHS practices must provide urgent slots for their patients. Phone as soon as they open.
- No dentist, or they cannot see you? Call NHS 111 or use 111 online. Describe the symptoms; they triage and book you into an urgent dental centre, often the same day for severe pain, swelling or bleeding.
- Cost: £27.90, or free if you are exempt from NHS charges.
The private route
Most private practices keep same day emergency slots. Expect to pay £80 to £400 for the emergency appointment, which covers examination and temporary treatment. Anything permanent (a proper filling, a crown, an extraction) is charged on top at the practice's normal rates. See private prices.
What counts as an emergency
- Severe pain that painkillers do not touch, or that stops you sleeping
- Swelling of the face, gum or jaw
- Bleeding that does not stop
- A knocked out or badly broken tooth (keep a knocked out adult tooth in milk and get seen within the hour)
- A lost filling or crown causing pain
A lost filling with no pain, a chipped tooth, or a dull ache are not emergencies; book a normal appointment.