If you need urgent dental care when we’re closed, here’s how to get the help you need.
Know where to turn at any time.
Free advice and emergency referrals.
Tips to manage until you’re seen.
We’ll continue your care when we reopen.
We understand that dental emergencies don’t always happen during practice hours. If you’re experiencing severe dental pain, swelling, or trauma outside of our opening hours, it’s important to know where to turn. This page explains your options and how to manage the situation until you can see a dentist.
If you have a dental emergency when we’re closed, follow these steps to get the care you need:
Call NHS 111 — available 24/7, free from landlines and mobiles. They’ll assess your symptoms, advise on pain management, and refer you to an out-of-hours dental service if needed.
Out-of-hours dental service — NHS 111 can direct you to the nearest emergency dental clinic in Norfolk. These services handle urgent problems like severe pain, swelling, trauma, and infections.
A&E only if necessary — go to hospital only for uncontrolled bleeding, significant facial swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, a serious jaw injury, or signs of a severe infection spreading.
The NHS 111 service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When you call, trained advisors can:
Call 111 — it’s free from landlines and mobiles, including pay-as-you-go phones. You can also visit 111.nhs.uk for online assessment.
While waiting to be seen, you can take steps to manage your symptoms:
These measures are temporary. Always seek professional dental care as soon as possible.
Most dental emergencies do not require A&E. Hospital emergency departments are for:
Bleeding from the mouth that won’t stop after applying firm pressure for 15-20 minutes.
Swelling affecting breathing or swallowing — this can indicate a serious, spreading infection.
If you suspect a fracture to the jaw following trauma or injury, go to A&E immediately.
High fever combined with difficulty opening your mouth, swallowing, or breathing requires urgent hospital assessment.
For toothache, lost fillings, or broken teeth, NHS 111 and out-of-hours dental services are the appropriate route — not A&E.
If you receive emergency treatment out of hours, please call us when we reopen so we can:
We’ll always make time for patients who’ve had emergency treatment elsewhere. Your wellbeing is our priority, and we want to ensure continuity of care after any urgent episode.
Call NHS 111 for free, 24/7 urgent dental advice. When we reopen, call us on 01603 898414 for follow-up care.
Spixworth Dental Practice
86 Crostwick Lane, Spixworth,
Norwich, NR10 3AF
