Will I see a dentist straight away?
Whether you call your dentist or NHS 24 you are likely to be asked questions to assess how soon you need to be seen and decide on the most appropriate action. This is called 'triage'.
In the most severe cases dental emergencies can be life-threatening and will be treated with immediate care in the same way as other medical emergencies.
During office hours a dentist will try to see urgent and priority matters as soon as possible. It may not be with the clinician you usually visit (or even at your usual dental surgery) and if you phone late in the day or the surgery is busy you may have to be given an appointment during the evening or the next day. Outside office hours you may be asked to go to the Gilbert Bain Hospital Dental Suite to be seen by the on-call dentist.
Low priority matters will be seen at the earliest opportunity. This may involve waiting for an appropriate appointment to arise.
In all cases the dentist will aim to get you out of pain and the issue resolved to an acceptable level. This might involve a temporary treatment that requires future permanent work during regular appointments or removing a tooth when in a non-urgent situation it might have been possible to repair the damage. This is why we recommend you see your dentist regularly to maintain good oral health.
What is a dental emergency?
- pain,
- infection,
- trauma, or
- any worrying patch in the mouth.
Urgent Matters
Urgent Matters are cases where a patient is suffering severe pain that isn't responding over-the-counter painkillers. These can include signs of infection (such as sudden sensitivity to sweet things or hot or cold drinks) or a badly broken tooth.
During office hours: contact the dental surgery where you are registered as soon as possible.
Outside office hours: call NHS 24 on 111 as soon as possible.
Priority Matters
Priority Matters are cases where a patient is suffering pain that can be reduced to an acceptable level by over-the-counter painkillers. These can also include an infection and a broken tooth.
During office hours: contact the dental surgery where you are registered as soon as possible.
Outside office hours: call NHS 24 on 111 as soon as possible.
Low Priority Matters
Low Priority Matters are cases where a patient has dental issue that requires attention but is causing little or no pain. These can include a chipped tooth and a lost filling or crown. Having these seen by a clinician reasonably soon is important as it prevents worse problems developing in the future; however there is no immediate risk to the patient. Contact the dental surgery where you are registered during office hours.
NHS 24
NHS 24 is an NHS service providing urgent health advice when your dentist or doctor is closed. For more information visit http://www.nhs24.scot
If you have worries and concerns about any dental issue contact the surgery you are registered with, or alternatively call NHS 24 on 111. You'll get friendly, helpful advice and, if necessary, appropriate treatment.
