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(Please contact us before 10am if you need to be seen urgently!)
We can’t plan for emergencies unfortunately! We understand that there are times when you need to see a dentist as quickly as possible. Debilitating toothache, an infection, or a damaged tooth can all require immediate dental attention. Which is why we always have at least 1 appointment available every day to see a patient in need. We do however need to assess and screen (what we call triage) all patients who contact, to prioritise and ensure everyone is seen for an appropriate amount of time.
I'm afraid we can not be flexible with emergency times as these are blocked out in our diaries in advance, so if you have a true dental emergency please prioritise this over over engagements. If you are offered an emergency space but do not take it, your priority for future appointments will be reduced.
Our plan patients are entitled to one reduced rate emergency appointment per year (the fee for this is dependant on which plan you are on). Additional emergency appointments will, of course, be seen but at the full emergency fee.
We do see unregistered patient emergencies also, but our first priority is always our registered patients. This is why we encourage all registered patients to email ctldental@gmail.com or call us on 01748 850607 as early as possible (on weekdays - before 10 am please to allow us to plan our time and offer unused spaces to those most in need).
What do you class as an emergency?
A true dental emergency involves any dental problem with the potential to be life threatening. This is a pretty limited category, and the only problems falling into it are uncontrollable bleeding, a spreading dental infection, and trauma to the mouth that could affect the airway.
After ensuring anyone in this category is seen promptly, we next prioritise severe pain cases which can not be controlled with painkillers. Whilst we understand that cosmetic concerns are very important to individuals, they are not classed as true dental emergencies, but please rest assured, we will always try to see you as soon as we can.
What should you do incase of an emergency?
Contact us as early in the day as possible. If we are not in yet, please leave us a message on our landline answer phone or via email.
What is the emergency phone?
This is to be used “out of hours”. We would classify out of hours as:
Evenings
Weekends
Bank holidays
This is really only designed for 10/10 emergencies that require urgent care. If you can wait until the next working day, please leave a message on the practice answer machine or drop us an email.
But if you do need us urgently out of hours the emergency number (for registered patients only) is: 07582 394984
Could we also request that this number is not used during clinic hours, Please call our reception number instead, if we are with another person please do leave a message or email us as we do try to respond as soon as we are free.
Top tips for preventing a dental emergency
Accidents happen, but when it comes to dental emergencies- there’s a few things you can do to prevent them.
Keep brushing: Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste, helps prevent problems like tooth decay. Severe decay can lead to emergencies such as dental abscesses. You should also see the hygienist twice a year to get a deep clean of your mouth.
Protect your mouth: Make sure you take proper precautions when it comes to contact sports or activities which could put your teeth at risk. For example, playing rugby or extreme sports such as quad biking. Wear a mouthguard where possible just in case of any accidents.
Attend routine appointments: Make sure to see us regularly for check-ups, so we can identify whether there are any problems with your oral health. This can help prevent any potential emergencies early on.
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