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Find emergency dental care near you. NHS and private urgent appointments for severe toothache, broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, and dental trauma. Available 24/7 across the UK.
A dental emergency is any situation requiring immediate dental attention to save a tooth, stop severe pain, or prevent serious complications. Unlike routine dental problems that can wait for a regular appointment, dental emergencies need urgent care—sometimes within minutes or hours.
Common dental emergencies include severe toothache that doesn't respond to painkillers, a knocked-out permanent tooth, a broken or chipped tooth causing pain or sharp edges, dental abscess with swelling, uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth, or injury to the jaw or face affecting teeth.
If you're experiencing severe dental pain, trauma to your teeth or jaw, or symptoms that suggest infection (fever, swelling, pus), you should seek emergency dental care immediately. Don't wait until regular surgery hours if you're in significant pain or have suffered dental trauma.
NHS 111 is your first point of contact for urgent dental problems in England and Scotland. They'll assess your situation and direct you to your nearest emergency dental service, which could be an out-of-hours dental service or emergency dental clinic. In Wales, call NHS 111 Wales. In Northern Ireland, contact your local Health and Social Care Trust.
Many dental practices reserve emergency appointment slots for existing patients. Call your dentist's phone number—most have an answering service for out-of-hours emergencies with instructions on how to get urgent care. Some practices offer same-day emergency appointments during working hours.
If NHS emergency dental services have long waits or you can't access NHS care, private emergency dentists offer same-day and out-of-hours appointments. Costs are higher than NHS treatment but you'll typically be seen faster. Many private practices offer 24/7 emergency dental care in major cities.
| Feature | NHS Emergency | Private Emergency |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £26.80 (Band 1) or free if exempt | £80-£150 consultation + treatment |
| Availability | Variable by area, may have waits | Same-day appointments, 24/7 in cities |
| Access | Via NHS 111, limited out-of-hours | Direct booking, walk-in available |
| Treatment Options | Essential urgent care only | Full range of treatments available |
Note: Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different NHS dental systems and costs. For general dental care, explore our NHS dentist directory.
First aid: Rinse with warm salt water, take painkillers (ibuprofen or paracetamol), avoid very hot or cold foods. See a dentist the same day if pain is severe.
Severe toothache can indicate infection, decay, or abscess requiring urgent treatment.
First aid: Keep tooth moist in milk or saliva, don't touch the root, see dentist within 30 minutes. Time is critical—this is a true emergency.
Permanent teeth can often be saved if reimplanted quickly by a dentist.
First aid: Rinse mouth with warm water, save any pieces, use cold compress outside face if swollen. See dentist same day if pain or sharp edges.
Minor chips can wait, but painful breaks need urgent care to prevent infection.
First aid: Rinse with salt water, take painkillers, see dentist urgently (same day). Signs include swelling, pus, fever, bad taste in mouth.
Abscesses are serious infections requiring immediate treatment and antibiotics.
First aid: Keep crown if possible, temporary dental cement from pharmacy can help, avoid chewing on that side. See dentist within 2-3 days.
Not always urgent unless painful, but needs prompt attention to prevent further damage.
First aid: Apply gauze with gentle pressure for 10 minutes, rinse with salt water. If bleeding doesn't stop after 20 minutes, seek urgent care.
Uncontrolled bleeding is an emergency. Minor bleeding from gums isn't urgent.
Find emergency dental services in major UK cities. Our city guides include NHS emergency dental contacts, private 24/7 dentists, and local out-of-hours services:
Remember: Hospital A&E cannot provide dental treatment. They can only help with life-threatening emergencies. For dental problems, always contact NHS 111 or an emergency dentist first.