This is guidance based on published NHS rates and eligibility rules. For your specific treatment, speak to your dental practice. For help with costs, contact the NHS Business Services Authority on 0300 330 1343.

Medical emergency?

If you have spreading facial swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or uncontrolled bleeding, call 999 or go to A&E immediately. Do not wait for a dental appointment.

Updated 17 April 2026

Emergency NHS Dental Treatment 2026: What to Do and What It Costs

Urgent NHS dental treatment costs £27.90 in 2026. Here is exactly how to access it, what counts as an emergency, and what to do when your own practice is closed.

URGENT DENTAL CHARGE (APRIL 2026)

£27.90

Free if you qualify for exempt treatment

The urgent dental charge is the same as the Band 1 charge. If further treatment is needed after the emergency appointment (e.g. a filling or extraction), you pay the appropriate band for the full course. The urgent charge is absorbed into the total.

Example: Emergency appointment plus a filling in the same course = Band 2 at £76.60 total, not £27.90 plus £76.60.

What counts as a dental emergency

Not all dental problems are emergencies. Understanding what qualifies helps you use the right route and get seen faster.

Genuine dental emergencies (seek urgent care)

  • Severe toothache not controlled by paracetamol or ibuprofen
  • Dental abscess with swelling, fever, or pus
  • Knocked-out permanent tooth (act within 60 minutes)
  • Uncontrolled bleeding after an extraction
  • Broken tooth causing cuts to your tongue or cheek
  • Lost crown or filling causing severe pain
  • Swollen gum or face related to tooth infection

Non-emergency (routine appointment needed)

  • Mild toothache managed with over-the-counter pain relief
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold without severe pain
  • Lost filling causing no pain
  • Chipped tooth causing no pain
  • Loose denture fitting badly
  • Routine check-up overdue
  • Cosmetic concerns (staining, gaps, alignment)

What to do right now: step by step

1

During practice hours: call your dentist first

Most NHS practices keep urgent slots for registered patients. Call as early as possible, ideally at opening (typically 8:00-8:30am). Describe your symptoms clearly. If they cannot see you, ask them to refer you to an emergency dental service.

2

Out of hours: call NHS 111

NHS 111 operates 24 hours, 7 days a week. Tell the call handler you have an urgent dental problem. They will triage you and arrange an urgent appointment at a local emergency dental service, usually within 24 hours. You do not need to be registered with an NHS dentist to access this service.

3

Life-threatening emergency: A&E or 999

Go to A&E or call 999 if you have: swelling spreading into your neck or floor of mouth, difficulty swallowing or breathing, high fever with spreading facial swelling, major facial trauma with bleeding that will not stop. A&E cannot provide dental treatment but can manage medical complications and provide pain relief.

Dental abscess: when it becomes a medical emergency

A dental abscess is a bacterial infection at the root of the tooth or in the gum. Most are urgent but not immediately life-threatening. However, an untreated abscess can spread, and spreading dental infections can be life-threatening.

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you have:

  • Swelling in your neck, floor of mouth, or under your chin
  • Difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth
  • Difficulty breathing
  • High fever (38C+) with rapidly worsening swelling
  • Swelling closing one eye

For a localised abscess (swelling confined to the gum or cheek area, without spreading signs), call NHS 111 or your dentist urgently. Treatment typically involves drainage, antibiotics, and usually root canal or extraction of the affected tooth.

Knocked-out tooth: the 60-minute window

If a permanent tooth is knocked out, speed is critical. Re-implantation is most successful within 30 minutes and possible up to 60 minutes.

1

Pick up the tooth by the crown (white part) only. Do not touch the root.

2

If dirty, rinse very briefly under cold water for no more than 10 seconds. Do not scrub or use soap.

3

Store in milk (the best option), saliva (hold in your cheek if safe), or saline solution. Do not use tap water.

4

Get to a dentist or A&E as fast as possible. Call NHS 111 while travelling to notify them you are coming.

5

Note: Do not re-implant baby (milk) teeth. Seek dental advice but re-implantation is not recommended for milk teeth.

NHS 111 urgent dental service: what to expect

When you call NHS 111 with a dental emergency:

Frequently asked questions

How much does emergency NHS dental treatment cost?
Urgent NHS dental treatment costs £27.90 (the Band 1 equivalent charge) from April 2026. If you need further treatment beyond the emergency appointment as part of the same course, you pay the appropriate band charge for the full course, with the urgent fee included in that total. If you qualify for free NHS dental treatment, emergency care is also free.
How do I get an emergency NHS dental appointment out of hours?
Call NHS 111. Tell them you have an urgent dental problem. They will triage you and arrange an urgent dental appointment, typically within 24 hours. If you have your own NHS dentist, call them first - most practices keep urgent slots available during opening hours. Out of hours (evenings, weekends, bank holidays), NHS 111 is the primary route.
Can I get emergency NHS dental treatment if I do not have an NHS dentist?
Yes. NHS 111 can arrange urgent dental care regardless of whether you are registered with an NHS dentist. You are not locked out of emergency care because of lack of registration. Contact NHS 111 and explain your situation.
Should I go to A&E for toothache?
A&E is not equipped to provide dental treatment and should not be used for toothache unless there is a genuine medical emergency such as spreading swelling causing difficulty breathing or swallowing, major facial trauma, or uncontrolled bleeding. For toothache, use NHS 111 or your dentist. A&E will typically only provide pain relief and antibiotics and refer you back to a dentist.
What do I do if my tooth is knocked out?
Act within 60 minutes for the best chance of re-implantation. Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), not the root. If dirty, rinse briefly under cold running water (do not scrub). Store the tooth in milk, saliva, or hold it in your cheek if safe. Go immediately to a dentist or A&E. Time is critical: re-implantation is most successful within 30 minutes.
How dangerous is a dental abscess?
A dental abscess is a bacterial infection that can spread if untreated. Most abscesses cause localised swelling and severe pain and require urgent dental treatment (drainage, antibiotics, root canal or extraction). However, spreading infections that cause facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the eye or floor of mouth are medical emergencies. Go to A&E or call 999 immediately if you experience these signs.

Related guides

Finding an NHS dentistBand 1 charge (£27.90)Free treatment eligibilityAll NHS dental charges