14 new dental centres open across the West Country
NHS England and NHS Improvement have confirmed the opening of 14 new urgent dental hubs in the West Country. These dental care centres will provide emergency assistance for patients while high street practices are closed during the lockdown.
New centres have opened in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Swindon, Chippenham, Bristol, Bath, Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater, Dorchester, Plymouth, Exmouth, Torquay and Bodmin.
Patients are encouraged to contact their local dentist if they experience severe, acute dental pain, symptoms of infections (including a fever and swelling), dental injuries and unexplained bleeding. Dental clinics are closed at the moment, but teams are providing advice over the phone, and they can also prescribe pain relief medication and antibiotics online. For patients who have urgent problems, a dentist will carry out a telephone consultation before deciding whether or not an appointment at an emergency dental centre is required.
Patients who experience symptoms outside of normal practice hours and those who are not registered with a dentist are encouraged to call NHS 111.
The exact locations of urgent dental hubs have not been disclosed to ensure that patients only attend when they have an appointment. This will help to ensure that those in greatest need are able to see a dentist quickly.
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