Covid-19 Update – Availability of Emergency Dental Care
NHS Urgent Dental Care hubs (UDC’s) have been set up in the South East to manage the most urgent dental problems during the Covid pandemic.
UDC’s provide emergency dental treatment (temporary) for the most severe problems such as dental infections, facial swellings, gum infections, haemorrhage (bleeding), severe mouth ulcers, some cases of toothache and severe pain. Only problems which can not be managed by painkillers or antibiotics at home need to be seen at a UDC. Everything else should be managed at home with the advice of a dentist.
Once a UDC has provided temporary treatment, you will need to see a dentist as soon as the practice re-opens for a more permanent solution. If you are not already registered with us, you can register with a private dentist now on 01329 823040 ready for when the practice re-opens. This is a great way of staying in touch with all the latest dental developments during Covid-19.
VIDA supporting the NHS
At VIDA we understand that professional advice at the right time goes a long way in preventing bigger dental problems down the line.
VIDA Dentistry is supporting the NHS by providing emergency dental telephone consultations during weekday working hours. VIDA will triage dental problems and help you manage them at home wherever possible.
**Update May 10th 2020. Online Consultations are also now available for emergency and non-urgent dental care enquiries. Visit our Online Consultation Booking page to view availability and book your appointment. Appointments are available to new and existing patients and are currently available free of charge.**
VIDA is also providing an additional Out of Hours Remote Emergency Dentist Service to support the general public and the NHS during this pandemic (scroll down for details).
If your problem is severe, and meets the NHS Urgent Dental Care hubs criteria, VIDA will refer you to the NHS Urgent Dental Care hubs for further treatment.
Together we can reduce the pressure on the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.
What to do if your case is not urgent or you are not sure if it is an emergency?
If you aren’t sure if your dental problems are an emergency, please call us anyway on 01329 823040 and our experienced dental clinicians will be able to guide you.
If you are suffering with minor toothache try these tips at home:
- If you are experiencing increased sensitivity in a tooth, try rubbing some extra fluoride toothpaste into the sore tooth using your fingertips (without brushing) which might help
- Avoid hot or cold foods or aggressive toothbrushing which trigger the sensitivity
- Keep the area cleaned regularly with toothbrushing and flossing (or interdental brushes)- be gentle and thorough
- Lost crowns and fillings can be temporarily refined using emergency dental kits- try the supermarket, pharmacy, or Amazon
- Take a suitable painkiller to ease minor pain until lockdown limitations are lifted and you can access the dentist for a check-up
- Do not try to pull your own teeth out or use other home remedies to create fillings- only use approved dental materials
For any gum soreness make sure you have tried these top tips for sore gums:
- Rinse with hot salt rinses several times a day
- For patients without allergies, try rinsing with Chlorhexidine mouthwash. Common brands are Corsodyl and Curasept (read the label carefully)
- Make sure your oral hygiene is brilliant and don’t forget to floss – this keeps the bacteria in your mouth at a low level
- Rest, hydrate well, eat well
- Take a suitable painkiller or anti inflammatory
And of course, make sure you continue to clean your teeth regularly with a fluoride toothpaste and floss daily between teeth, taking particular care between crooked or overlapping teeth.
Simply call VIDA on 01329 823040 to access our Remote Weekday Emergency Dentist Service.
When you call, you will be asked to leave a message. A member of our clinical team will return your call and Assess, Advise and prescribe Antibiotics* if clinically required. If your problem requires referral to an NHS UDC we will be able to refer you to the nearest UDC. Their process is to re-triage all referrals and give you an appointment for any necessary temporary treatment.
* Antibiotics may be dispensed by VIDA with our standard private prescription charge. Alternatively a private prescription may be sent to a pharmacy and the patient may collect the medication and pay the pharmacy’s charges. VIDA is not able to provide NHS prescriptions as we do not have an NHS contract.
Out of Hours Remote Emergency Dentist Service from VIDA
If you need urgent dental advice outside of these time, at weekends or on Bank Holidays, you may still contact VIDA Dentistry for an Emergency Telephone Consultation on 01329 823040.
Denplan patients enjoy extra Out of Hours Benefits and are welcome to contact the practice as above or the Denplan 24 hour Emergency Helpline on 0800 844 999.
How to join Denplan?
Leave a message on the practice answerphone 01329 823040 or email [email protected] and we will reply to discuss options.
Not already registered with VIDA Dentistry?
No problem – New and existing patients are welcome to use our Emergency Dentist Service on 01329 823040.
Everybody stay safe and well.
