NHS Devon Dental Helpline

Finding an NHS dentist

To find a regular NHS dental practice in Devon or Cornwall, please call 03330 063 300.

Urgent Out-of-Hours Service

The urgent out-of-hours dental service in Devon is accessible via 03330 063 300 and in Bristol, Dorset, North Somerset, and South Gloucester by calling NHS 111.

The out-of-hours urgent dental service is for patients in need of relief from:

• Acute dental pain
• Acute infection
• Bleeding or trauma

Our call centre is extremely busy; on an average day, we will be answering over 250 calls from patients experiencing dental pain, and there are only a small number of appointments available.

What is a dental emergency?

• Facial swelling that extends to the eye or neck area, closing the eye, and/or affecting breathing or swallowing
• Bleeding due to trauma
• A broken tooth that is causing pain
• Significant toothache that is preventing sleep, eating, causing swelling or fever and cannot be managed with painkillers

Not a dental emergency

• Loose or lost crowns, bridges or veneers
• Broken, rubbing, or loose dentures
• Bleeding gums
• Broken, loose, or lost fillings
• Chipped teeth with no pain
• Loose orthodontic wire—unless it's causing soft tissue trauma

Coping with dental pain at home

If you're experiencing facial swelling that is affecting vision or breathing, preventing your mouth from opening more than two fingers width, or trauma that is causing loss of consciousness, double vision, or vomiting, you need to go straight to A&E.

If over-the-counter pain medication is not helping, please speak with your pharmacist.

Is the information correct?

Let us know if the information on this page is wrong and needs to be updated.

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