NHS

NHS urgent dental care

If you have an urgent dental problem such as severe pain, swelling, infection, bleeding, trauma, or any condition that requires prompt attention, please contact the practice directly so our team can assess your needs and arrange appropriate care.

Urgent dental care is intended for serious issues that may require treatment within 24 hours or within 7 days, depending on the nature of the problem. We provide urgent NHS appointments for both our regular patients and for patients who are not currently registered with a dentist.

We have a limited number of NHS urgent care appointments available each week in line with NHS contractual requirements. Please contact the practice to check availability. If we are unable to offer an urgent NHS appointment, we will help direct you to alternative local urgent dental care services, including NHS 111.

If you require urgent dental advice or treatment outside of our normal opening hours, please call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk.

NHS dental care

Southwick Green Dental & Implant Clinic offers NHS dental services for adults and children, although access may be restricted due to high demand. Call 01273 596990 to check our latest availability.

The NHS provides essential dental care only, which patients require to keep their mouths, teeth and gums healthy and pain-free.

It does not offer cosmetic treatments or advanced treatments such as dental implants, and uses functional rather than aesthetic materials within treatments. As an example, NHS treatment would use amalgam (silver metal) for fillings, rather than a white filling, which will blend better with the natural teeth.

However even as an NHS patient, at Southwick Green Dental & Implant Clinic you are still able to upgrade to aesthetic private options for any treatments, should you choose.

In England and Wales the fees for NHS examinations and treatments are subsidised by the NHS, with patients covering the balance. These prices are fixed and sit within 3 bands.

NHS dental care is free of charge for children under the age of 18, and for those under 19 and in full-time education. Dental care is also free on the NHS if you qualify for it under the NHS exempt criteria; for example, pregnant women qualify for free NHS dental care.