NHS 24’s expert tips for handling dental emergencies

With many people indulging in more sugary treats than normal over the Easter weekend, NHS 24 has shared their expert advice on where and when to seek help with dental issues.

For help with dental emergencies outside normal opening hours – such as evenings, weekends, and public holidays, NHS 24 can be contacted on 111.  

Deborah Devlin is a dental clinical service manager for NHS 24’s Scottish Emergency Dental Service, she explains more on what qualifies as a dental emergency: 

“A dental emergency is when you have a problem that absolutely cannot wait until your dental practice reopens, for example severe and significant swelling, infections, bleeding, or injury. It’s crucial to act quickly and seek advice in these situations to avoid further medical complications or permanent damage.” 

Dental emergencies may include: 

• Severe swellings: where the eye is completely closed or the patient is unable to swallow saliva. 

• Bleeding: severe bleeding in the mouth that won’t stop and is uncontrolled.  

• Trauma: knocked out teeth or severe damage to the mouth or gums. 

  
  

Deborah continues: 

“Other dental problems such as broken or chipped teeth that are not painful, issues with damaged dentures, crowns, or bridges, or lost fillings are typically not classed as requiring immediate emergency treatment. We appreciate that experiencing these types of situations can be annoying and sometimes distressing, but you should wait until your dentist reopens to get advice on treatment.” 

If you are not registered with a dentist, you can get advice by contacting your health board’s dental helpline during the in hours period. Full details of these can be found by visiting NHS inform.  

“NHS inform is a great source for help with minor dental problems, but it also covers topics such as cleaning your teeth properly, coping with a fear of the dentist, and caring for your child’s dental health,” advises Deborah.  

“Ultimately though, we want everyone to remember that the key to avoiding a lot of dental problems is to maintain good oral hygiene. Keep brushing and flossing regularly, and although you might have a mountain of Easter eggs to get through, avoid eating lots of sugary foods to keep your teeth healthy.”