Extra appointments are now available for people in Norfolk and Waveney who need urgent or unscheduled dental care and don’t have a regular dentist.

The appointments are for urgent conditions including:

• Severe toothache: persistent and intense pain that cannot be managed with over-the-counter painkillers.
• Dental abscess: infection causing swelling, pain, and possibly fever.
• Broken or knocked-out tooth: trauma resulting in a fractured or completely dislodged tooth.
• Bleeding in mouth following a dental procedure or an injury that doesn’t stop by itself but can be self-controlled using local measures. Note that if bleeding cannot be self-controlled in any way, emergency care may be necessary.
• Swelling: significant swelling in the mouth or face that could indicate an infection.
• Fractured, loose or displaced fillings causing pain.
• Severe bleeding from gums, or acute conditions affecting other soft areas of the mouth (such as cheeks or tongue) which require urgent treatment.
• Other treatments may be available at the discretion of the dentist. These treatments may require extra visits and costs.

People can get an urgent appointment by visiting NHS111 or phoning 111.

Sadie Parker, Director of Primary Care for NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said: “We know how important it is to local people that they can get urgent dental care when they need it, so we’re pleased to be offering these extra appointments. The appointments are for urgent dental care only, so please check our websitefor a list of eligible conditions.

“We’ve made real progress in improving access to NHS dental services across Norfolk and Waveney, with over 98,000 new patients receiving care last year after years without treatment. We’ve launched new services for children and patients with complex needs, opened six child-focused practices, and welcomed 46 new dental professionals into our local NHS.

“There is also work happening nationally to improve dental workforce recruitment, retention and training.”

To find out more about dental services across Norfolk and Waveney please visit the ICS website.