Dentists provide treatment to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy and free of pain.
A dentist can provide advice and treatment to look after your teeth and gums and regular check-ups help to see if you have any dental problems.
A dentist can carry out treatment such as fillings or root canal treatment, if you need it. Regular attendance is important to maintain oral health with treatment provided as required.
Some dentists provide a mixture of NHS and private care. If you are unsure what services your dentist provides, please ask the practice. If you do not have a regular dentist, you can find a dentist via Find a dentist.
Unlike with a GP practice, NHS Kent and Medway is unable to allocate patients to a dentist.
If you need urgent dental treatment:
- Call your regular dentist, if you have one. Some practices offer appointments at short notice.
- Contact Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT), Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm on 0300 123 4412 or email kcht.dentalhelpdesk@nhs.net.
- Call Dentaline Out of Hours on 01634 890300, Monday to Sunday from 6 to 10.55pm and Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays from 8.30am to 1.25pm.
Examples of urgent dental conditions:
- Severe pain: Pain that is not manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers and is interfering with daily activities or sleep.
- Infections: Swelling, redness, or pus in the mouth, especially if spreading or accompanied by fever.
- Trauma: Knocked-out teeth, fractured teeth, or injuries to the mouth and jaw.
- Bleeding: Uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth.
- Other: Abscesses, pericoronitis (inflammation around wisdom teeth), and severe ulceration or lesions.