Non-registered Patients

We are also happy to see patients who do not wish to register at the practice, but only wish to see us with a dental emergency – if they are visiting the area, for example. We make a fixed charge of £113 for such appointments. Permanent treatment may not be possible at this appointment, but in these cases we would endeavour to provide temporary treatment to relieve the problem.

Payment is normally at the beginning of the appointment or over the phone when the appointment is booked.

Denplan patients are covered for emergency call out appointments and treatment but will need to pay the first £15 of any charges.

The NHS provides an emergency service called Dentaline which can be contacted on 01634 890300.

During normal working hours, we are also happy to see patients who do not wish to register at the practice, but only wish to attend the practice because they have a dental emergency.

Pain and swelling

If you have dental pain and cannot attend the practice immediately, you could consider taking painkillers such as Ibuprofen or paracetamol, then contact the practice as soon as possible to make an appointment. If you take any other medications or have allergies or a medical condition and are unsure if you can take painkillers, please take advice from a pharmacist first. Do not exceed the recommended daily maximum dose of a painkiller and never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gum near the tooth as it may burn the gum.

If the pain becomes very severe you can contact the on call dentist by ringing the practice or Dentaline.

If you have acute swelling in the mouth or associated area of the face you can try rinsing with warm salt water mouthwashes, holding the solution over the area to try and relieve the symptoms. If the swelling worsens or spreads to the eye or affects your breathing or swallowing, then ring the on-call dentist or Dentaline or attend your local hospital emergency department.

Knocked out tooth

If a tooth has been knocked out, for example in a fall or sports injury, please follow the advice below:

• Find the tooth. If possible pick up the tooth by the crown not the root (the crown is the visible part of the tooth in the mouth). Try to put it back in place (rinsing it briefly with saliva if dirty). Make sure it is facing the right way.
• If it is not possible to clean or replace the tooth, then store the tooth in the patient’s cheek or a cup of fresh milk. DO NOT wash or store the tooth in plain water or allow the tooth to dry out.
• Contact the on-call dentist or Dentaline as soon as possible, as knocked-out teeth have the highest chances of being saved when seen by a dentist and returned to their socket within one hour of being lost.

If a tooth is only broken and is not sensitive to air, is not tender or displaced then it can probably wait until the surgery reopens. However, if you are in any doubt then please ring the on-call dentist or Dentaline for advice.

Lost crowns & fillings

If a crown or filling is lost and there are no sharp edges or pain then it can probably wait until the surgery reopens. Please ring early to make an appointment and remember to take the crown with you to the appointment. If a crown is lost you may be able to slip the crown back over the tooth. Before doing so, coat the inner surface with an over the counter dental cement, toothpaste or denture adhesive to help hold the crown in place. Please do not use superglue!

If you are in pain please contact the on-call dentist for advice.