Emergency Care

Emergency Cover

Contacting us in an emergency

Please call the surgery on 0115 925 5767 and the answer phone message will advise you on how to proceed.

Denplan patients can also call the patient emergency line on 0800 844 999.

If a call out is appropriate then there is a fee of £135* for non denplan patients, plus the cost of any treatment provided. 
*Call out fee doubles on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

Some urgencies do not have to be seen straight away. The dentist will attempt to triage and offer advice accordingly. If appropriate then arrangements can be made to see you out of hours for emergencies and urgencies.

Common Concerns

If you are unsure whether you have a dental emergency, the following information covers some of the most common concerns of patients and will hopefully help you.

Abscessed Tooth - Dental Emergency

If an abscess is present you may experience a constant throbbing pain that doesn’t respond to pain killers, the affected tooth may also be very tender to bite on or touch. You may have a swelling visible inside the mouth or on the gum, or in extreme cases, on the outside of your face.

Contact us as soon as possible to arrange an emergency appointment.

Broken Braces and Wires - Urgent

If a dental wire becomes broken and is poking the gums, you can help alleviate pain by pushing the poking wire away from the gums and contact us to schedule an appointment with the orthodontist.

If a bracket or band becomes loose contact us to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Broken Denture - Non-Emergency

DO NOT attempt to repair your denture on your own, as you could cause additional damage to the denture or your mouth. Contact us to schedule a dental appointment at your earliest convenience.

Broken Tooth - Urgent

This is considered urgent but may not be a dental emergency. If the tooth is temperature sensitive or tender to touch, avoid hot and cold foods and biting or chewing in that area. Try to keep the tooth as clean as possible until seen by the dentist. Contact us to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Facial Fracture - Dental Emergency

A facial fracture is an injury that results in broken bones to the face. It can also result in damage to the teeth. The immediate concern is the damage to the face. Transport the victim to a hospital emergency department for immediate medical attention. Following the management of the fracture contact the dentist for an assessment as soon as you feel able.

Knocked Out Tooth - Dental Emergency

If your tooth is knocked out, try to control the bleeding by applying direct pressure with a cold compress. Try not to be alarmed as there may be quite a bit of bleeding. If possible keep the tooth in some of your saliva, blood or some milk and bring it to your emergency appointment. Do not try to clean the root or tooth.

Contact us for immediate assistance or seek help at your nearest A&E hospital department.

Lost Crowns or Fillings - Non-Emergency

We appreciate that if you have lost a crown or filling from a front tooth then there are some aesthetic considerations. Contact us for advice and to arrange an appointment at your earliest convenience.

It may be possible to temporarily re-fix the crown or pack the area with a cement from an over-the-counter emergency dental kit or by using sugar free chewing gum, until your are seen by the dentist.

If this occurs outside of normal working hours the dentist will offer advice, however it is generally not necessary to see you as an out of hours emergency.

Short Lasting Sensitivity - Non-Emergency

This is not considered a dental emergency even if the sensation is quite sharp. It can be caused by a number of factors including exposed dentine or root surfaces, recent routine dental procedures or gum recession. Contact us to arrange an appointment at your earliest convenience within normal working hours. You may be able to alleviate the symptoms by using desensitising toothpaste.

Swelling - Dental Emergency

If you are experiencing sudden swelling, often accompanied by discomfort, there may be an infection. Contact us to schedule an emergency appointment.

Uncontrolled Bleeding From a Tooth Socket - Dental Emergency

It is not unusual for a socket to ooze or bleed after having a tooth removed. This usually occurs 2-4 hours after the procedure though it can occur 2-3 days afterwards.

Firstly apply pressure over the socket with a bite pack that has been issued or a clean damp hankerchief for 15-20 minutes. If the area is still bleeding, uncontrollably, then contact us for an emergency appointment.

Be sure to advise the dental team of any medication you are taking, or have taken, which may effect bleeding.

Uncontrolled Constant Pain - Urgent

Although this may not be an emergency, we do not want our patients to remain in pain. Contact us to arrange an appointment as soon as possible.

If this occurs out of hours, the dentist will triage your condition, offer advice and determine whether you need to be seen straight away.