Urgent NHS dental appointments

NHS Gloucestershire is continuing to provide urgent dental appointments at clinics across the county each week, including on weeknights and at weekends. There is plenty of availability every week, and patients can access these urgent appointments by contacting NHS 111. They will then be triaged by dental nurses in the local urgent dental care triage team. Appointments can be accessed by people from any part of the county.

Appointments are also available across the county to support patients who have had an urgent dental appointment and require further treatment, but do not have a dentist. These appointments may include a full-examination and follow-up dental treatment to support someone’s oral health to help ensure they do not need another urgent dental appointment soon. Patients will be referred following their urgent dental appointment if they need this.

The 2026 Quality and Payment Reforms (published 23 February 2026) indicate that in the coming months, the Government will be making changes to how NHS dental services are funded and delivered. Some of these changes start in April 2026 with others planned for later in the year. From April, most high street dentists with an NHS contract will be required to offer a minimum number of urgent or unscheduled appointments, which could include patients who are new to the practice, boosting access to NHS dentistry.

Whilst we await further guidance, we are continuing to work closely with local dentists to increase the number of NHS dental places for local people, including children.

Dental services to be provided at Quayside House 

A contract has been awarded to Smile Together CIC for the provision of much needed NHS dental services at Quayside House Dental Access Centre (DAC) in Gloucester City. Daytime, evening and weekend urgent care appointments will be available for Gloucestershire residents as well as appointments to stabilise dental health with follow-up appointments where needed. Read more here.

Centre of Dental Excellence

Working with the University of Gloucestershire, we continue to develop plans for a Centre of Dental Excellence in the heart of Gloucester City on King’s Square.

It is envisaged that the Centre, with six individual treatment rooms, will provide extended evening and weekend urgent care appointments to patients alongside treatment plans and regular, routine appointments. The contract will also include targeted oral health promotion and supported access for vulnerable populations.

Subject to affordability, successful contract negotiations and building work at City Campus, it is anticipated that the Centre will be operational in early 2027.

Additional information: urgent NHS dental appointments

Your constituents can benefit from urgent care appointments for the following conditions:

  • Severe toothache: persistent and intense pain that cannot be managed with over-the-counter painkillers.
  • Dental abscess: infection causing swelling, pain, and possibly fever.
  • Broken or knocked-out tooth: trauma resulting in a fractured or completely dislodged tooth.
  • Bleeding in mouth following a dental procedure or an injury that doesn’t stop by itself but can be self-controlled using local measures. Note that if bleeding cannot be self-controlled in any way, emergency care may be necessary.
  • Swelling: significant swelling in the mouth or face that could indicate an infection.
  • Fractured, loose or displaced fillings causing pain.
  • Severe bleeding from gums, or acute conditions affecting other soft areas of the mouth (such as cheeks or tongue) which require urgent treatment.
  • Other treatments may be available at the discretion of the dentist. These treatments may require extra visits and costs.

A poster is available to download from the NHS Gloucestershire website. To request hard copies, please email glicb.enquiries@nhs.net. Further information can be found at NHS.uk/urgentdentalcare.