Emergency
Emergency dentist London — what to do right now
Urgent dental help for London patients: NHS 111, walk-in emergency dentist costs (GBP 150–350), dental hospitals, and what to do next about the underlying treatment.
If you have a dental emergency in London right now, call NHS 111 (free, 24 hours) for urgent NHS dental care referral, or attend a private emergency dental clinic in your zone for same-day treatment costing GBP 150–350 for the emergency appointment alone.
If you are in dental pain in London right now, this page gives you the immediate steps and then the realistic options once the emergency is dealt with.
What to do right now
Call NHS 111 — free from any phone, available 24 hours. The service includes dental triage. A dental nurse will assess your symptoms and direct you to an NHS urgent dental care service, an out-of-hours dental access centre, or, for swelling affecting your breathing or swallowing, to A&E. Do not drive yourself if pain or swelling is severe.
If you need same-day treatment and cannot wait for an NHS slot, search for “emergency dentist London” and filter by your postcode zone. Many private practices across Zones 1–4 offer same-day emergency appointments. Be prepared to pay GBP 150–350 for the initial emergency appointment before any follow-up work is quoted.
For trauma cases — knocked-out tooth, jaw injury, severe facial swelling — go directly to the nearest A&E or call 999 if breathing is affected.
NHS urgent dental care in London
England’s NHS dental system uses Band charges. Emergency and urgent treatment falls under Band 2.
| NHS charge band (England, April 2026) | What it covers | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | Examination, X-ray, scale and polish | GBP 27.90 |
| Band 2 | All Band 1 plus fillings, extractions, root canal treatment, dressings | GBP 76.60 |
| Band 3 | All Band 1 and 2 plus crowns, bridges, dentures | GBP 332.10 |
An NHS urgent dental appointment that results in an extraction or temporary dressing is charged at Band 2: GBP 76.60. This is the maximum NHS charge for that course of treatment regardless of what is done within it.
The difficulty in London, as across England, is access. Healthwatch reports consistently show NHS dental capacity is significantly overstretched, particularly for new patients. If you are not currently registered with an NHS dentist in London, securing an urgent NHS appointment is not guaranteed. NHS 111 will do what it can, but same-day private treatment may be the faster route for many Londoners.
Find an NHS dentist: nhs.uk/service-search
Private emergency dental costs in London
Private emergency dental clinics operate across all London zones. These are the typical cost ranges for the initial appointment only — not the full restoration.
| Emergency treatment | London private cost range |
|---|---|
| Emergency consultation and X-ray | GBP 80–180 |
| Temporary filling or dressing | GBP 100–200 |
| Emergency extraction (simple) | GBP 150–300 |
| Emergency root canal (first appointment) | GBP 200–400 |
| Re-cementing a loose crown | GBP 80–180 |
These are emergency appointment costs. Definitive restorations — a permanent crown, implant, or bridge to replace what was lost — are quoted and priced separately.
London is the most expensive private dental market in the UK. Central London and Zone 1 practices in particular carry a significant location premium.
Dental hospitals in London for complex cases
Two London dental hospitals are relevant for complex emergency cases:
King’s College Hospital Dental Institute, Denmark Hill, SE5. One of the UK’s largest dental teaching hospitals. Has an emergency dental clinic. NHS. Accepts walk-in emergency patients, though waiting times can be several hours. Appropriate for trauma, complex extractions, and cases requiring specialist assessment.
UCL Eastman Dental Hospital, Gray’s Inn Road, WC1X. NHS teaching hospital. Primarily sees referrals for specialist treatment, but has emergency capacity for registered patients and some urgent walk-in cases. More suited to specialist-led treatment than routine emergency access.
Both hospitals are free at the point of care for NHS-eligible patients. They are not a substitute for registered NHS dental care but are a meaningful safety net for complex or trauma cases.
Common dental emergencies and what they mean
Severe toothache
Severe or persistent toothache — worse at night, not relieved by ibuprofen and paracetamol — usually indicates pulpal involvement (the nerve inside the tooth). This typically requires root canal treatment or extraction. NHS Band 2 covers both. Private root canal treatment in London costs GBP 300–700 per tooth for a single-rooted tooth, more for multi-rooted posterior teeth.
Broken or chipped tooth
A broken tooth may be sharp, painful, or causing soft tissue damage. An emergency dentist can smooth sharp edges and place a temporary dressing. The long-term fix — a crown, veneer, or composite bonding — is quoted after the emergency is stabilised.
Lost or loose crown
A lost crown is uncomfortable but usually not dangerous unless the exposed tooth is acutely sensitive. Many emergency dentists can re-cement a crown if you bring it with you. If the crown is lost, a temporary cover is placed while a new permanent crown is made. Expect to pay GBP 600–1,200 for a new porcelain crown at a London private practice.
Dental abscess
A dental abscess causes throbbing pain, swelling, and sometimes a visible lump on the gum. It requires antibiotics and drainage. Do not delay — facial swelling from an abscess can spread quickly. If swelling is affecting your ability to swallow or breathe, go to A&E. For a localised gum or tooth abscess, NHS 111 or an emergency dentist will prescribe antibiotics and arrange drainage. The underlying tooth will likely need root canal treatment or extraction.
Knocked-out adult tooth
Pick up by the crown, not the root. Rinse with milk or saline — not tap water — and do not scrub. Try to gently reinsert it into the socket. If not possible, keep it in milk or between your cheek and gum. Get to an emergency dentist within 30–60 minutes. The sooner reimplantation happens, the higher the chance of success. A&E can also assist if a dentist is not reachable.
After the emergency: what is the underlying treatment?
Emergency dental treatment addresses the immediate problem — pain relief, infection control, temporary protection. It does not complete the full restoration. Once stabilised, most emergency cases lead to one of the following:
Dental implant — if a tooth was extracted or cannot be saved. The implant replaces the root; a crown is fitted on top. Timeline: typically 3–6 months from extraction to final crown.
Permanent crown — if a tooth was broken, had root canal treatment, or a temporary crown was placed. The permanent crown is fitted once the tooth is stable.
Root canal treatment — if the nerve is infected or damaged. Prevents extraction by cleaning and sealing the root canals. A crown is usually placed on top afterwards.
Bridge — if multiple adjacent teeth are missing or a gap needs to be covered without an implant.
If the cost of fixing it privately in London is a shock
London private dentistry is expensive. If you received an emergency appointment and the full restoration quote has surprised you — a single implant at GBP 2,500–4,000, a crown at GBP 600–1,200, or a multi-unit plan at GBP 8,000–20,000 — you are not alone. Many London patients at this point look at the numbers for dental treatment in Vietnam.
Picasso Dental Clinic in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City uses the same implant brands available in London: Nobel Biocare and Straumann. Their prices start from GBP 1,160 for a single implant with crown. Emax zirconia crowns start from GBP 203. The saving on a single implant — typically GBP 1,500–3,000 — is enough to cover the return flight from Heathrow or Gatwick.
This is not the right path if your treatment is urgent. Vietnam requires advance planning of at least 4–6 weeks, a written treatment plan, and X-rays. It is the right path if you have stabilised the emergency, have a clear diagnosis, and are now comparing restoration options.
Once you have your emergency X-rays and the dentist’s notes, you have what Picasso needs to provide a free itemised GBP quote.