Emergency Dentists - do they exist

[Userxxxxx]

I've had toothache for 2 days now and I think the tooth is wobbly so guessing it may need pulling, but oh lord I didn't realise there really seems to be no emergency services and dentists that claim to be open on a Saturday/offering Saturday appointments are actually shut and haven't even offered a Saturday appointment so is there anything that can be done re. the false advertising?

The dentist that I am registered with cannot see me until the 11th and have no emergency service it seems. Calling dentists near to where I work I am getting soonest dates into late July and beyond. So far the best dentist appointment I can get is Wednesday lunch time next week with another dental surgery in my home town.

In the meanwhile I am expected to last on Ibuprofen? What happens if it is an infection which then because of being left spreads.

Try phoning 111. In my county, they will triage dental issues via a specific protocol, and they have access to emergency face ti face appointments across the county, 7 days a week.

Thank you, I had also tried 111 couple of hours ago and they said they would call back so here's hoping.😢

Didn't hear anything back from 'Suffolk Community Dental Team' via 111.

Only good was when I repeated the contact, they sent my details over to a pharmacy who have let me have a numbing gel - Oragel Extra Strength is magnificent stuff for anyone searching in the future.

Going to see if I can use this without the painkillers.

Also see I can attempt to buy the penicillin I was issued before for teeth problem online but unsure if I should hold out until Wednesday.

If you are registered w a dentist try calling them if you haven’t already. My dentist has an OOH number for emergencies. Also I know our NHS emergency provision includes dentistry, but it sounds like that varies depending on where you are. 🤞 OP

As far as I know the answer is no not really.

dentists are supposed to have their own ‘in house’ emergency service staffed by themselves and occasionally they ‘team up’ with another practice - for holidays and weekends etc generally they will only see their own registered patients tho.

apart from that it’s a case of calling 111 or phoning around to see if anyone has available emergency spaces
111 should be able to point you towards help. But tbh nhs dentists are getting fewer. It’s a crap situation

I rang 111 for an appointment for my DC, it took 23 hours for them to call back. They gave me an NHS emergency dentist appointment with Bupa and went through the correct website to find a dentist (most of the said by referral only which is actually incorrect but I had not been ringing these as we were not being referred by anyone) he now is now registered and has his tooth sorted.

I would probably just try calling around local private dentists. I did this last week due to tooth pain and they saw me the same day, prescribed and handed over antibiotics and took an X-ray.

Try calling local private dentists that might be closed. Many of them have an emergency dentist number on their answerphone. That's what I did and my son was seen the same day (over the Easter weekend) but ££££££

My dentist will see you in absolute emergencies if you ask the receptionist nicely. I remember on the day of leaving for my honeymoon I was in agony and I explained over the phone. He agreed to see me, I was in the chair 45 mins later and he prescribed antibiotics. I honestly think it would have been the crappest honeymoon ever without his help!

If you can wait until tomorrow then your dentist might be able to fit you in of you say it's an emergency. Mine did last week. I was pathetically grateful.

If you’re anywhere near a dental hospital you might be able to get an emergency appointment - they’re usually associated with the big university or teaching hospitals.

Massive thanks everyone for responding and all the advice. I knew there was hoo har about nhs availability totally around here, to the point my parents travel from Halstead to Chelmsford to retain nhs whereas I'm private so I was just stunned at the responses I was getting on calling round yesterday.

It's my own fault looking back now I wish I had insisted on the tooth being removed in late 2020 but I took the penicillin and that improved. I just accepted the dentist I got in 2020 and remember waiting around 5 weeks then.

Looking at the appointment I got for Wednesday with another dentist, I should probably shut up and count my blessings it turns out they had no patients back in March to the point they ran an open day with free consults (rather sounds like they shut completely during covid and lost a load of customers) so hopefully with plenty of reassuring future availability looking at the online diary, they'll get me sorted quick.

Thank you again.

My dentist doesn't even practice anymore I've been left without one. I had a cracked molar that was getting worse and I had to phone 111 every morning at 8am or 8.30 and hope someone could fit me in. Had to travel half an hour by car

^^So, so sorry to hear that, it must be absolutely gutting and unbareable to lose a dentist you have built up trust with. I really wouldn't mind travelling as I know my employer will have a dickie at my having to travel back into Suffolk but I've tried a number of surgeries in the town I work with in who claim to be open from 8am and on Saturdays to find out that just isn't true. I appreciate I will probably lose my job due to Wednesday being inconvenient - again because an Employer doesn't need to allow you to have the time off.

111 were completely useless when I had a dental emergency on holiday (in the uk) and none of the local dentists would see me. They told me to phone my GP. My GP back home, miles away. For a dental problem.

I had a dry socket a few years back and at the weekend was able to access emergency dentist at local hospital. But only during limited day-time hours. This was in Scotland.