A brief idea about how much an emergency dental appointment costs

A dental emergency – understanding the basics

Any dental problem that requires immediate professional intervention and care is a dental emergency. In other words you can say every dental condition is not a dental emergency. Few typical examples of dental emergency include uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth that seems never to stop, severe pain in the tooth that does not get better with pain medications available over the counter at chemist shops, broken or fractures bones in the face or the mouth.

How to handle such situations

The first thing you should do while suffering from a dental emergency is get in touch with your dentist. Explain the overall scenario at your end to the dental professional and listen to his or her instructions. Following these instructions will help you avoid further sufferings and complexities in the first place. As far as the United Kingdom is concerned, usually every dentist maintains an emergency contact number. A dental emergency may occur any time of the day or the night without any prior intimation. If your dental emergency occurs beyond regular business hours, you can call at the emergency number of your dentist to get your instructions.

In case you are not registered with a dentist or an oral health practice, then go to the A&E room of the nearest hospital or an urgent care centre. How much does an emergency dental visit cost? This is a crucial and relevant aspect while we are discussing dental emergencies. We will surely cover this aspect in this post at the appropriate place. Till then let us explore more about the basics of dental emergencies.

Venues to get dental emergency treatments

The majority of dental emergency cases that involve a completely knocked out or partially broken tooth, a dentist usually treats patients in his or her office. But for more serious cases like those involving broken bones of the face or the jaws a patient should straightaway walk into the A&E room of the nearest hospital. 

Typical examples of dental emergency cases

Typical examples of dental emergency cases include the following –

• Severe pain in the tooth
• A tooth that is badly cracked or fractured
• Partially dislodged tooth (the condition is also called extruded tooth)
• A tooth abscess in advanced stages (when swelling spreads to the jaw or the face)
• Damaged, broken or lost dental restorations like fillings and crowns
• Severe injury sustained in the soft tissues of the mouth like a busted lip or a deep cut

In the next section of the post we will explore how to cover these dental emergencies. But before that here is something important. There is no uniform answer to queries like how much is an emergency dental visit when London is concerned. The average cost of emergency dental visits vary widely mainly based on the factor what type of dental emergency one is suffering from. The range of dental emergency conditions is also sufficiently far-stretched, ranging from unbearable pain in the tooth to trauma from accidents and much more.

Managing a dental emergency involving unbearable pain in the tooth

Prepare a lukewarm solution of saltwater by mixing about a teaspoon of table salt in a cup of water and rinse the mouth thoroughly with it. If something is lodged between the teeth, try to take it out using a dental floss. If there is swelling in the mouth, apply cold compress to the affected area from outside the face. Take over the counter pain medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, paracetamol or acetaminophen, etc. to manage the pain till a dentist sees you. However please remember never to place aspirin directly in the mouth as that may result in burning of the soft tissues in the mouth. In any case, you must see a dentist as early as you can to get permanent relief from the pain and discomfort.

A tooth that is badly cracked or fractured

You must save and quickly rinse the broken pieces of the tooth. In this condition, rinsing the mouth with lukewarm water proves both helpful and soothing. There could be bleeding from the affected tooth and it is important to control it as soon as possible. Place a piece of gauze at the site of bleeding and hold it tight right there applying pressure with the opposite tooth. This is how bleeding can be controlled within 15 to 20 minutes. To get relief from the pain and swelling apply a cold compress to the affected area in the mouth from outside. Make sure to visit a dentist and get properly diagnosed as early as you can.

The table below gives a clear idea about how much is an emergency dental appointment in London.    

In other words, the standard cost of an emergency dental appointment for any non registered patient in London starts around £75 and depending on several factors, like the condition, severity and the day and the time of an appointment, it may go up to £500 or more.

The NHS charges for emergency dental care are much nominal and cost around £22.70 to £26.80. For out of the hour treatments you have to get in touch with a dentist through the 111 NHS helpline or dental triage line.

On the other hand, let us see how much an emergency dental care is in private clinics. Charges for emergency appointments in private practices usually start from around £75 and go anywhere up to several hundreds of pounds. Some practices even charge more for appointments beyond standard business hours. For urgent dental issues, Dental Clinic Chelsea aims to offer timely and professional services to ensure your comfort and oral health.