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Dental services 

NHS dental services help you look after your teeth and gums, prevent dental disease and access urgent treatment when needed.

NHS dental care, urgent treatment, and oral health support

What do dental services provide?

NHS dentists help you to:

  • Keep your mouth and teeth healthy
  • Prevent tooth decay and gum disease
  • Treat dental problems early
  • Manage pain and infection
  • Maintain long-term oral health

Regular dental care is important for lifelong wellbeing.

How can I find a NHS dentist in Essex?

You can search for an NHS dental practice near your home or workplace and contact them directly to ask about NHS appointments.

  • Use the NHS Find a Dentist service
  • Search by location and availability

[Search for an NHS dentist near you]

How we are improving access to dental services

NHS Essex Integrated Care Board is working to improve access to NHS dental care for residents of all ages.

This includes:

  • Commissioning additional NHS dental capacity
  • Supporting urgent care services
  • Working with providers to increase appointment availability
  • Developing targeted access programmes

[Find out more about our dental access programmes]

Urgent and emergency dental care

If you need urgent dental care:

  • Contact your usual dentist first, if you have one
  • Some practices offer urgent appointments where clinically necessary
  • You can also contact NHS 111, which can book urgent dental appointments directly

You do not usually need to contact dental practices yourself if you use NHS 111.

Do not contact your GP practice for dental emergencies, as they cannot provide dental treatment.

When should I contact NHS 111 for dental care?

Contact NHS 111 if you have:

  • Severe toothache affecting sleep or daily activities
  • Dental pain not controlled with paracetamol or ibuprofen
  • Swelling, infection, or fever related to a tooth
  • A broken or knocked-out tooth
  • Severe pain or bleeding after an extraction
  • A damaged filling, crown, denture, bridge, or veneer causing pain
  • Severe bleeding from the gums
  • A lump, swelling, or sore in the mouth that is growing or not healing

NHS 111 can assess your symptoms and arrange urgent care if needed.

When should I go to A&E for dental problems?

Only attend A&E for dental-related problems in serious circumstances, such as:

  • Severe injury to the face, mouth, or teeth
  • Rapidly increasing swelling affecting breathing, swallowing, or speech
  • Serious trauma following an accident

[Find your local A&E department]

For most dental problems, NHS 111 or a dentist is the right first contact.

How much does NHS dental treatment cost?

Most adults need to pay for NHS dental treatment.

Some people are entitled to:

  • Free NHS dental care, or
  • Help with treatment costs

This depends on age, income, pregnancy status, and certain health conditions.

[Find out more about NHS dental charges and exemptions]

Problems finding an NHS dentist

If you have been unable to find an NHS dentist and are concerned about access:

  • Contact our Complaints and Concerns Team [insert link]
  • Provide details of where you have tried to register
  • Include any urgent care needs

As the Integrated Care Board, NHS Essex is responsible for commissioning NHS dental services and ensuring local needs are met.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may escalate your complaint to the
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

No. You do not need to be registered. NHS 111 can arrange urgent dental care even if you are not currently registered with a practice.

No. GPs are not trained to provide dental treatment and cannot arrange dental procedures. Contact a dentist or NHS 111 instead.

Your dentist will advise how often you need check-ups. This varies depending on your oral health and personal risk factors.

You may be entitled to free treatment or financial support. Check eligibility using the NHS dental charges guidance.

If you cannot find a dentist accepting new NHS patients:

  • Use the NHS Find a Dentist website regularly, as availability can change
  • Contact NHS 111 if you need urgent care
  • Keep a record of the practices you have contacted

If you remain concerned about access, you can contact the Complaints and Concerns Team for support.

Yes. You do not need to be registered to receive urgent NHS dental care.

For routine care, practices decide whether they can accept new NHS patients based on capacity.

Yes. You may choose to use a private dentist if NHS appointments are not available.

Private treatment is not funded by the NHS and you will need to pay the full cost.

NHS 111 will always try to arrange NHS urgent care first where possible.

If an adult tooth is knocked out:

  • Handle it by the crown (top), not the root
  • Rinse it gently if dirty (do not scrub)
  • Try to place it back in the socket if possible
  • If not, store it in milk or saliva
  • Seek urgent dental care immediately via NHS 111

Quick action can improve the chance of saving the tooth.

No. GPs do not usually prescribe antibiotics for dental problems.

Dental infections are best treated by a dentist, who can provide appropriate care.

Contact NHS 111 to access urgent dental services.

Waiting times vary depending on demand and availability.

NHS 111 will prioritise people based on clinical need and arrange care as quickly as possible.

People with severe pain, swelling, or infection are usually seen sooner.

Yes. All children under 18, and those under 19 in full-time education, are entitled to free NHS dental care.

Regular dental check-ups help prevent problems later.

Many dental practices offer support for nervous patients.

You can:

  • Tell the dental team about your concerns
  • Ask about options for managing anxiety
  • Request extra time to discuss treatment

NHS 111 can also help find suitable urgent care if needed.

Yes. Urgent dental services operate outside normal hours.

If you need help in the evening, overnight, or at weekends, contact NHS 111 for advice and appointment booking.

If you have recurring dental problems, it is important to arrange routine care with a dentist.

Urgent services are for short-term problems and do not replace ongoing dental treatment.

Your dentist can help create a long-term care plan.

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