There’s no good time to have a dental emergency, but over the Christmas and New Year holiday is probably one of the worst occasions to experience such problems.
As the people of Somerset tuck into toffees, nuts and traditional Christmas lunch, the chances for a painful broken tooth or damaged filling become all the more likely.
But would you know where to get treatment for a dental emergency this Christmas and New Year holiday?
The solution is to telephone the Somerset NHS Dental Helpline – Tel: 0300 123 7691
Richard Wood, NHS Somerset’s Dental Commissioning Lead, explains: If you find you have an urgent need for dental treatment this Christmas and New Year holiday try to contact your regular dentist for treatment. However, if they are not available telephone the Somerset NHS Dental Helpline. The service will help you get you an emergency dental appointment and urgent dental treatment.
The Somerset NHS Dental Helpline (Tel: 0300 123 7691) can help you access urgent dental treatment this Christmas and New Year if you are have:
- A broken tooth, painful missing filling or injury to your jaw
- Uncontrollable bleeding following extraction of teeth
- Severe dental and facial pain not controlled by over counter pain killers
- Painful infections in the gums or jaw, such as an abscess
- Rapidly increasing swelling around the throat or eye
The helpline is open from every day from 8.30am until 6.00pm.
You can also call NHS Direct, the 24 hour health information service if you need to know where there is an NHS dentist in your area. Just telephone 0845 46 47 for help or visit: www.nhs.uk
Richard added: If you are not registered with an NHS dentist make it your New Year’s resolution to register. Somerset has invested heavily in local NHS dental services and this is helping many more people, particularly those in our most rural areas so they can get good access to the dental care they need. Make sure you take advantage of this NHS service, children’s dental care is free until they are 18 years of age.
If you are having difficulties finding an NHS dentist to register with in your area just contact the Somerset NHS Dental Helpline. Tel: 0300 123 7691.
