Several dental practices, including new urgent dental hubs, across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are offering urgent appointments as part of a national programme. In November, around 34,000 additional urgent dental appointments were commissioned to support patients across the region who need to see an NHS dentist for emergency treatments.
Patients who need urgent dental care can access these appointments by using 111 online or phoning 111. Patients will be directed to the appropriate practice to be seen for their urgent need.
James Roach, Director of Primary Care and Local Care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “We have worked closely with dental providers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to significantly increase the availability of urgent dental appointments, where patients can be directed to an appropriate dentist locally. We are keen to expand the points of access for our patients across a seven-day period and are in the process of launching urgent dental hubs to help deliver these appointments. The Damira Woolston Urgent Care Dentist hub opened on Saturday 24 January for patients to attend with urgent needs.
“Access to routine NHS dental appointments is improving and this significant increase in urgent care will strengthen NHS dentistry locally as we continue to expand access. As a commissioner we are keen to maintain increasing appointment availability year on year, and we encourage patients to use the appointments available in line with need.”
These urgent appointments are for patients who are likely to be in significant pain, including those suffering from infections or needing urgent repairs to a lost filling or crown, and require urgent treatment. Use 111 online or call 111 to check symptoms and access the right care.
Conditions suitable for urgent dental appointments include:
- 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.