Your guide to NHS dental services
How do I register with an NHS dentist?
Finding the right route for you can depend on the type of dental care you need, as well as appointment availability in your area. The NHS has a search tool to help people find dentists.
Search results show which practices are currently accepting new NHS patients and whether urgent appointments are available. Records are not always kept updated, so it’s often worth contacting practices shown as having availability directly for the most up-to-date information.
You don’t need to live in the same areas as your dentist and can use any dental practice for NHS dental treatment. To obtain an appointment at a dental practice, contact them directly to enquire about available appointments.
You do not permanently ‘register’ with a dentist in the way you would with a GP. Your dentist may choose to keep you on an informal list of regular patients and invite you back for regular check-ups. Dental practices may decide to remove patients who do not regularly attend appointments from their lists but should make patients aware before any changes are made.
What if I can’t speak to a dentist (or don’t have one) but need urgent dental help?
If you do not have a regular dentist or are unable to find one with available appointments and need urgent dental help, please call the Sussex Dental Helpline on 0300 123 1663 (between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday) or email: kcht.dentalhelpdesk@nhs.net for more information.
When you call the helpline, you'll speak to a trained professional who can help you find a dentist taking on NHS patients or refer you for urgent or emergency care.
Where can I go for out-of-hours or emergency dental treatment?
Emergency dental treatment can be provided out of hours, and you can find your local service's contact number via Sussex Health & Care - here.
These services are by appointment only and will not accept walk-in patients. All calls are triaged and appointments are offered to callers who meet the criteria.
The Brighton & Hove Emergency Dental Service can be telephoned on 03000 242 548. The service is open out of hours and takes calls after 5.30pm on weekdays and from 9am at weekends. For full opening hours, read more here.
Dental help is also available from NHS 111, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NHS 111 can advise whether visiting A&E is necessary or whether other services or treatments may be able to support you.
When should I go to hospital?
Hospital Emergency Departments do not have specialist dental staff or equipment and should only be attended if you have:
- heavy bleeding
- injuries to your face, mouth, or teeth
- severe swelling, or increasing swelling of your mouth, lips, throat, neck or eye.
Click here to find your nearest A&E. If you're not sure whether you should go to A&E, contact NHS 111, who will be able to advise you.
We also have a guide to NHS dental charges which can be found here.