22 Apr 2025
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.”
Contact Information
Gillian Morrison
Communications Manager - External
NHS 24
gillian.morrison@nhs24.scot.nhs.uk
- During office hours: NHS24.hqcommunications@nhs24.scot.nhs.uk (NHS 24 Communications Team)
- Out of hours: 0330 123 3241 (duty press officer)
Notes to editors
- Access dental advice specific to patients in Scotland by visiting NHS inform.
- An NHS 24 video featuring Deborah Devlin talking about how to access dental treatment is attached and is available to download.
About us
We are Scotland’s provider of digital and telephone-based health and care services. Our services include:
- 111 – providing urgent care triage for anyone who thinks they need A&E, but it is not life or limb threatening, support for those in mental health distress and advice when their GP, pharmacy or dental practice is closed.
- NHSinform.scot - Scotland's online health information service that offers quality assured health and care information including - Symptom checker, Scotland’s Service Directory and Mental health advice and resources.
- Breathing Space a free and confidential phone and web chat service for anyone in Scotland over the age of 16 experiencing low mood, depression, or anxiety.
- Care Information Scotland (CIS) a phone, webchat and website service providing information about care services for people living in Scotland.
- Quit Your Way Scotland an advice and support service for anyone trying to stop smoking in Scotland.
- Living Life a phone service that offers support to people in Scotland who are experiencing low mood, mild to moderate depression or symptoms of anxiety through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
NHS 24 Online app
Our app ‘NHS 24 Online’ provides people in Scotland an additional channel to find out more about their symptoms, how to safely self-manage illnesses and conditions, and when and where to see further medical advice if required. NHS 24 Online is free and can be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices.
Social media
For more details on our services, including current campaigns and recruitment, have a look at our social media: Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.
Recruitment
For all applicants hoping to join the organisation, our careers section of our website provides key information including:
- links to current vacancies
- videos of staff discussing their roles
- details of the recruitment process
- benefits of working for NHS 24 and top tips for a successful application.
Accessibility
Work is continually ongoing to ensure our services are accessible.
You can access 111 in diverse ways:
- Language Line - If English is not your first or preferred language, you can use the free interpretation service Language Line.
- British Sign Language (BSL) - If you use BSL, you can use the free BSL interpreting video relay service Contact Scotland BSL.
- Relay UK. - If you use a textphone you can contact NHS 24 on 18001 111. Or you can contact NHS 24 with the Relay UK app.
NHS inform provides health information online in 24 different languages, British Sign Language (BSL), Audio, Easy Read, and Large Print. For more information on this see: nhsinform.scot/translations/
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