Using Your Dentist
What should I do about severe toothache?
By The Local Dentist Editorial · Updated 13 July 2026
Get urgent dental care — not a DIY fix
Severe toothache usually means something has progressed: deep decay, a dying nerve, an abscess, a cracked tooth, or a lost filling. Homemade remedies and waiting it out rarely fix the cause. Phone your dental practice as early as you can and say you are in severe pain — NHS practices are expected to prioritise patients in urgent need, and most keep same-day emergency slots. If you have no regular dentist, or it is evening, weekend, or a bank holiday, call NHS 111 (or use 111 online). 111 can arrange urgent NHS dental access based on clinical need, whether or not you are 'registered' anywhere.
When it is A&E or 999, not a dental appointment
A small cluster of red-flag problems are medical emergencies. Go to A&E or call 999 if facial or neck swelling is affecting your breathing or swallowing, or spreading in a way that worries you toward the eye or airway; if bleeding from the mouth will not stop with firm pressure; or after significant trauma to the face or jaw. Hospital teams manage airways and uncontrolled bleeding — a high-street surgery cannot. A&E will not drill and fill an aching tooth, so do not go there for pain alone however bad it feels: that route is your practice or 111. If you are unsure which bucket you are in, call 111 and describe the symptoms — triage exists precisely for this.
While you wait to be seen
A pharmacist can advise on suitable over-the-counter pain relief and temporary filling kits for lost fillings — tell them your symptoms and any medicines you take. Avoid extremes of hot and cold if the tooth is sensitive, and never put aspirin against the gum (it burns the tissue). Do not try to lance a swelling or pull a tooth yourself. Soft foods, keeping the area clean, and elevating your head when lying down can take the edge off throbbing pain for some people. If symptoms worsen while waiting — spreading swelling, fever, difficulty opening your mouth, or feeling generally unwell — call 111 again or seek emergency care, because dental infections can escalate.
What urgent treatment costs and what comes next
Urgent NHS dental treatment in England has a flat charge of £27.40 for the urgent course — typically pain relief, a temporary dressing, draining an abscess, or stabilising a broken tooth. Usual exemptions apply (under-18s, pregnancy/maternity with MatEx, HC2, qualifying benefits). Permanent fixes such as a root canal, permanent filling, or extraction are usually a separate follow-up course at the normal band (£75.30 Band 2 or £326.70 Band 3 in England). Privately, emergency appointments often cost £50–£150 for the visit, with treatment priced on top. Once the crisis settles, book the follow-up — temporary dressings and unfinished root canals fail if left. Speak to a dentist about the lasting plan; this page cannot diagnose cause or treatment.
People Also Ask
Should I go to A&E with severe toothache?
Not for pain alone — A&E cannot provide routine dental treatment. Use your practice or NHS 111 for urgent dental care. A&E or 999 is for swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or facial trauma.
How quickly should severe toothache be seen?
As soon as practicable the same day if pain is severe, especially with swelling or fever. Call early for emergency slots, or 111 out of hours. Do not wait days hoping it settles if you cannot function.
Can a pharmacist help with toothache?
Yes — for advice on pain relief and temporary measures while you arrange dental care. A pharmacist cannot treat the underlying cause; you still need a dentist.
How much does urgent NHS dental treatment cost?
£27.40 in England for the urgent course (free if you are exempt). Follow-up definitive treatment is charged separately at the normal band.
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This article is general information for UK patients, not clinical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on nhs.uk or speak to a dentist before acting. For severe facial swelling affecting breathing/swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma call 999 / go to A&E; otherwise NHS 111 for urgent dental access. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from ourmethodology.