Dental emergencies

If you have a dental problem you should, in the first instance always phone the dental practice that you normally attend.

Dental emergencies need to be assessed and treated quickly to avoid the risk of permanent damage.

They include:

abscesses and swellings in and around the mouth
bleeding
trauma – for example knocking out a tooth

If you can find the missing tooth, try to reinsert it and see a dentist as soon as possible. Don’t try to reinsert a baby tooth. Take your child to see a dentist as soon as possible.

Pain relief for dental pain

Always stick to the recommended dose on the label or leaflet when taking pain relief. If you think you’ve taken more than the recommended maximum dose, phone 111.

Broken or chipped tooth

Breaking or chipping a tooth isn’t a dental emergency. If you can find the missing part of your tooth store it in milk and see a dentist as soon as you can during normal working hours.

Broken dentures

Breaking your dentures isn’t a dental emergency. It can be dealt with during normal working hours.

If you’re registered with a dentist, you should contact them the next working day.

If you’re not registered with a dentist, contact your local health board using the details on this page.

Crown or bridge has come out

You can buy an emergency dental kit from a local supermarket or pharmacy.

If you’re registered with a dentist, you should contact them the next working day.

If you’re not registered with a dentist, contact your local health board using the details on this page.

Filling has come out and there’s no pain

If you’re registered with a dentist, you should contact them the next working day.

If you’re not registered with a dentist, contact your local health board using the details on this page.

In-hours dental emergencies

In-hours is Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Registered with a dentist

If you’re registered with a dentist and think you have a dental emergency during this period, phone your dental practice. They’ll be able to tell you whether you should:

be seen by your dentist
go to a local hospital for care

Not registered with a dentist

If you’re not registered with a dentist, follow the local advice given below.

Region	Emergency contact
Ayrshire and Arran	Ayrshire and Arran Dental Helpline on 01292 616990 (Open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm)
Borders	Borders Dental Helpline on 0300 7900 710 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6.00pm)
Dumfries and Galloway	Dumfries and Galloway Dental Helpline on 01387 245532 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm)
Fife	Fife Dental Advice Line on 01592 226 555 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm)
Forth Valley	Forth Valley Dental Line on 0844 800 6886 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.30pm)
Greater Glasgow and Clyde	Emergency Dental Treatment Centre on 0141 232 6323 (Open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm).
Grampian	Dental Information and Advice Line on 0345 4565 990 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.15am to 5.45pm)
Highland	Argyll and Bute – Dental Helpline on 0845 833 2310 (Open Monday to Thursday, 8.45am to 4.30pm and Friday 8.45am to 4pm) All other Highland areas – Dental Helpline on 0800 141 2362 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 5.00pm)
Lanarkshire	Lanarkshire General Enquiry Line on 01698 753 673 (Open Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm and Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm).
Lothian	Chalmers Dental Centre* 3 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh EH3 9EW  Tel: 0131 536 4800. Dental triage and advice service, Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. Dental treatment service, Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. *Please note, Chalmers is not a walk-in service. If you require an urgent appointment, you must call the number.
Orkney	Independent NHS Dental Practices – Orkney Dental Practice on 0185 687 2030 or, Deyanov Dental Practice on 0185 687 7118 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm) NHS Orkney Practices – Balfour Dental on 0185 688 8258 or, Garson Dental Clinic on 0185 685 0658 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm)
Shetland	Phone a local dentist to arrange to be seen (Open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm)
Tayside	Perth and Kinross – Broxden Dental Centre on 01738 450 550 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm) Dundee – Tayside Dental Advice Line on 01382 596 990 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.30pm) Arbroath and Angus – Dental Advice Line on 01241 432 481 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm)
Western Isles	Western Isles Dental Helpline on 01851 707 500 (Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.00am to 3.30pm and Wednesday 9.00am to 1.00pm)