Residents urged to use 111 for dental appointments
NHS HAMPSHIRE & IOW have urged residents to use the NHS 111 service to access urgent dental services across the region as part of a national programme, which saw around 34,000 additional appointments commissioned in November 2025 to support patients who need to see an NHS dentist for emergency treatments.
If a patient requires dental care urgently, they are asked to use the 111 online service or phoning 111 to access these appointments. They will be directed to the appropriate practice to be seen for their urgent need depending on their symptoms and it is hoped that this will reduce pressures on dentist surgeries, meaning that more people get seen quickly and routinely.
Director of Primary Care & Local Care, James Roach, said: “We have worked closely with dental providers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to significantly increase the availability of urgent dental appointments, where patients can be directed to an appropriate dentist locally. We are keen to expand the points of access for our patients across a seven-day period and are in the process of launching urgent dental hubs to help deliver these appointments.”
“The Damira Woolston Urgent Care Dentist hub opened on Saturday 24 January for patients to attend with urgent needs. Access to routine NHS dental appointments is improving and this significant increase in urgent care will strengthen NHS dentistry locally as we continue to expand access. As a commissioner we are keen to maintain increasing appointment availability year on year, and we encourage patients to use the appointments available in line with need.”
These urgent appointments are for those patients who are likely to be suffering from significant pain from a range of issues; such as infections or needing urgent repairs to a lost filling or crown. Severe toothache, dental abscesses, broken / knocked-out teeth, bleeding in the mouth or gums, swelling, serious filling issues and acute conditions affecting other soft areas of the mouth (such as cheeks or tongue) are also defined as being eligible for these appointments.
However people should always be aware that having these issues doesn’t always guarantee that urgent treatment is required, and they should answer questions honestly with more information on urgent dental conditions available here. Other treatments may be available at the discretion of the dentist, but these may require extra visits and costs.
PICTURED BY NHS HAMPSHIRE & IOW: Residents have been urged to contact NHS for access to urgent dentist appointments if required across the region.
