Urgent dental appointments now available in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes

Extra appointments are available now for people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes who need urgent or emergency dental care.

There are 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments being rolled out across the country, as part of the Government’s commitment to provide additional urgent dental appointments.

The appointments are for urgent conditions including:

• 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 crowns, bridges, fillings or veneers causing pain.
• Fractured or loose-fitting dentures and other appliances.
• 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.  More information on urgent dental conditions is available at www.nhs.uk/urgentdentalcare.

People can get an urgent appointment by visiting NHS111 or calling 111. 

Anyone can access the urgent dental care slots and you do not need to be registered with the dental practice.

As part of the new programme, the local Integrated Care Board will be launching a campaign, using distinctive graphics on social media channels and screens in NHS waiting rooms, to raise awareness of the extra appointments on offer.

Feema Francis, Consultant in Dental Public Health at NHS England, East of England, said:

“We know how important it is to local people that they can get urgent dental care when they need it, I’m pleased that the ICB is offering these extra appointments.  The appointments are for urgent dental care only, so please check www.nhs.uk/urgentdentalcare for a list of eligible conditions.

“Even if you don’t need urgent dental care today, it’s important to know how to access these appointments in case you or a loved one should ever need to make one.

“There is also work taking place nationally to improve recruitment, retention and training in the dental workforce.

“These extra appointments will make it easier for local people to get the treatment they need and relieve their pain or discomfort.  Just visit NHS111 online or call 111 and they will put you in touch with a dentist who can help.”