Emergency Advice

What is considered a dental emergency?

This applies to medical emergencies only:

• Bleeding e.g. after an extraction
• Trauma e.g. a fall
• Swelling e.g. from an infected tooth

These are conditions that if left untreated could severely affect a persons health or even prove life threatening.

Any patient that thinks they are suffering from the above should seek immediate medical attention, either by calling the practice during hours on 01291 624515, or NHS Direct out of hours on 0845 602 0252 where they will be given advice or an appointment as appropriate.

Urgent, non-emergency problems

Other matters often arise that are not emergencies but do require more urgent attention than waiting for a routine appointment. As a practice, each day we have a slot reserved for urgent treatment, usually around lunch time. This slot will only be booked on the day so there are always appointments available each day. However it is booked on a first-come first-served basis. Although it is a rare occurrence, should the slot be filled then you may be asked to call the next day for an appointment unless there are cancellations through the day. Similarly, if a patient phones after the slot time, they will be asked to call back the next day.

On the NHS, these slots will normally incur a £12 charge, unless the patient is exempt or is currently undergoing treatment. They are used to provide remedial care, so normally a follow-up appointment will be needed to carry out permanent treatment on the problem.

Common uses for these appointments are:

• Toothache
• Lost fillings
• Lost crowns
• Denture ease or repair

Emergencies for non-registered patients

People who have not been to the practice for an assessment will have to pay a private charge (see here for charges) for a non-registered emergency appointment. Likewise this will be a rescue appointment to provide suitable treatment to relieve the current problem. It is likely that this will mean a further treatment will be needed. The patient will then have to register with the practice, or an alternative practice if more convenient, to complete the treatment.

Our ability to offer emergency treatment for non-registered patients will depend on the demand placed by our registered patients, who will always be given priority. We make no guarantee that a non-registered patient will be given an appointment.

We are not able to guarantee what treatment will be provided until the dentist has had a chance to assess the problem. For example, a lost crown may not be able to be recemented if there is too much damage to the retaining tooth.

Emergency Contact Information »