Dental Problems:

If you have an urgent dental problem, such as toothache or a dental abscess, you should see a dentist not your GP.

If you have a regular dentist you should telephone them and arrange an urgent appointment.  If they are closed there should be an answerphone message with the phone number of the local dentist covering emergencies.  If you have trouble getting through call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Are you in Dental Pain and Need Urgent Treatment?

Dental Pain during the Day

• If you have a dental practice you normally attend for dental checkups and treatment, you should call the practice and ask for an urgent appointment.

• If you do not see a dentist on a regular basis you should call NHS Direct Wales 0845 46 47 where a dental nurse will discuss the dental pain you have. NHS Direct Wales will provide you with a reference code and the number of the Health Board’s Dental Service Coordinator who will allocate you an urgent appointment within the following 24 hours.

• Every effort will be made to book an appointment with a practice in your local area, although this cannot always be guaranteed so you may need to travel anywhere within Swansea, Neath Port Talbot or Bridgend.

• If you receive urgent dental treatment there will be a dental charge unless you are exempt from paying NHS charges. If you do not have to pay for treatment you will be asked to provide evidence of this when you attend the practice.

Dental Pain in the Evening or Weekend

• If you have dental pain in the evening, over the weekend or Bank Holiday you should call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47. 

• A dental nurse will discuss the dental pain you have and if you need an urgent appointment, you will be given the mobile number of the dental practice on call. 

• You will need to ring the number given to you and book an appointment directly with the dental practice which will be based within the Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend area. 

• If you receive urgent dental treatment there may be a charge unless you are exempt from paying NHS charges. If you do not have to pay for treatment you will be asked to provide evidence of this when you attend the practice.

Emergency Treatment

The following are classed as emergencies and require access to immediate treatment from an A&E Department:

• Bleeding from recent surgical site that will not stop, for example after tooth extraction.
• Increasing swelling that is causing the patient to have difficulty with breathing and/or swallowing.
• Damage to teeth or jaws as a result of an accident.