Dental emergencies
Accessing dental treatment during the coronavirus pandemic
If you have a dental problem you should, in the first instance always telephone the dental practice that you normally attend. If you are not registered with any dental practice then your nearest dental practice will still be able to help.
Further information is available on accessing dental treatment during the coronavirus pandemic.
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.
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.
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 01563 507 950 (Open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm) |
| Borders | Borders Dental Helpline on 0845 300 0930 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6.00pm) |
| Dumfries and Galloway | Dumfries and Galloway Dental Helpline on 0845 602 6417 (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 Advice Line on 0845 833 2310 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm) All other Highland areas - Dental Advice Line on 0845 644 2271 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm) |
| Lanarkshire | Lanarkshire General Enquiry Line on 0300 30 30 243 (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. |
| 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 425 791 (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) |
Out-of-hours dental emergencies
Out-of-hours is:
- Monday to Thursday, 6.00pm to 8.00am
- 6.00pm on Friday to 8.00am on Monday
If you think you have a dental emergency during this period, phone the 111 service.
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