Emergency dental treatments
Emergency dental examination and X-rays: what the £30 visit includes
Fifteen minutes with a dentist, the X-rays we need to find the cause, and a written price for any treatment before it starts. Available every day from 8am to 8pm.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, Principal Dentist · GDC 301711 · Last reviewed April 2026
What the £30 emergency examination includes
Every emergency at Deepcar Dental Care starts the same way: a focused examination of the tooth or area that is troubling you, the X-rays needed to see what is happening under the surface, and a clear explanation of what we found. The fee is £30 including X-rays, and it covers the examination only. If you need treatment on the same visit, we tell you the price before we pick up an instrument, and you decide.
You do not need to be registered with us. Around eight in ten emergency patients are seen and treated on the day they call, because we hold emergency slots every day, including weekends and most bank holidays. If you are already in pain, the same-day emergency appointment guide explains how the day usually runs.
Why we take X-rays before we treat
Most of the things that cause a dental emergency are hidden. Decay under an old filling, an abscess at the tip of a root, a crack running below the gum, a wisdom tooth pressing on the one in front: none of these can be seen by looking in the mouth. Treating a tooth without an X-ray is guesswork, and guesswork in an emergency means the wrong tooth gets drilled or the right tooth gets the wrong treatment.
We use digital X-rays. The sensor sits inside your mouth for a second or two and the image appears on the screen within moments, so you see what we see. A small digital dental X-ray delivers roughly the same dose of radiation as a day of the natural background radiation everyone receives, which is why we are comfortable taking them when they change the decision.
Two kinds of X-ray cover most emergencies. A periapical shows one or two teeth from crown to root tip and is the one we use for toothache and abscesses. A bitewing shows the crowns of the back teeth on one side and is best for finding decay between teeth and under fillings. For surgical extractions or trauma we have a CBCT scanner on site that gives a three-dimensional image; that is a separate £150 scan and is rarely needed at a first visit.
What happens in the fifteen minutes
We listen first.
We look and feel.
We test.
We take the X-rays.
We explain.
The tests we use to find the tooth that hurts
Toothache is often felt in the wrong place. Pain from a lower molar can be felt in the ear or the upper jaw, and a tooth next door to the real culprit can seem to be the one that hurts. Simple chairside tests tell us which tooth is responsible.
Cold test.
Percussion.
Bite test.
Gum probing.
Mobility.
Fees and what you pay for
Treatment is always priced separately and agreed in writing before it begins. Typical follow-on fees are listed on the emergency dental fees page, and 0% finance over 6 to 18 months is available through Tabeo for larger treatments, subject to status.
| Item | Fee (from) |
|---|---|
| Emergency examination including X-rays (15 minutes, excludes treatment) | £30 |
| Additional small X-ray if needed | £15 |
| CBCT 3D scan (rarely needed at a first visit) | £150 |
| Out-of-hours attendance after 6pm weekdays and at weekends | Additional charge, quoted when you book |
What happens after the examination
The examination ends with one of four outcomes. Many problems can be treated in the same slot: a temporary filling, a bite adjustment, recementing a crown or smoothing a sharp edge. Longer procedures such as an extraction or the first stage of a root canal are booked into the next available slot, often that afternoon. Sometimes the right step is to settle things first, for example draining an abscess before deciding whether to save or remove the tooth. And occasionally the examination shows the problem is not dental at all, in which case we tell you where to go instead.
Whatever the outcome, you leave with a written treatment plan and prices, and you can phone the practice with questions afterwards. Overnight, the emergency line is answered personally by Dr Ijaz, the principal dentist.
When it is more than a dental problem
A dental examination is the right first step for almost all tooth and gum problems. Some situations need a hospital instead. Go to A&E, or call 999, if you have swelling that is closing your eye or spreading down your neck, difficulty swallowing or breathing, a suspected broken jaw, or bleeding that will not stop after firm pressure. The nearest A&E with a maxillofacial unit is the Northern General Hospital on Herries Road, about 20 minutes from Deepcar. For advice outside our hours, NHS 111 is available around the clock.
Questions, answered
Common questions
How much is an emergency dental examination in Sheffield?
At Deepcar Dental Care the emergency examination is £30 and includes the X-rays needed. Treatment is priced separately and agreed in writing before it starts. Out-of-hours appointments after 6pm on weekdays and at weekends carry an additional charge.
Do I need to be registered to get an emergency appointment?
No. Anyone can book an emergency examination, whether or not they have been to the practice before. We are a private practice, so there is no NHS registration and no waiting list.
Are dental X-rays safe if I am pregnant?
Dental X-rays are aimed at the jaw, use a very low dose and are considered safe in pregnancy when there is a clinical reason for them. Tell us if you are or might be pregnant and we will only take the films that will change what we do.
Will you treat the problem at the same appointment?
Often, yes. Quick treatments fit into the examination slot. Longer ones are booked into the next free emergency slot, which is usually the same day. Around eight in ten emergency patients are treated on the day they call.
Why do you need an X-ray when you can see the hole?
The hole shows where decay started, not how deep it goes or whether the nerve underneath is infected. The X-ray tells us whether a filling will work or whether the tooth needs a root canal or extraction, which changes both the treatment and the price.
Can you see a child for an emergency examination?
Yes. Children are seen for emergencies at the same £30 fee. We only take X-rays on children when they will change the treatment, and we use the smallest sensor and shortest exposure.
What should I bring to an emergency appointment?
A list of any medicines you take, especially blood thinners, and the name of any antibiotics you have already been given. If a piece of tooth, filling or crown has come out, bring it in a clean container.
In pain? Don’t wait
Same-day emergency appointments, seven days a week.
£30 emergency examination including X-rays. Call now and a real person answers, or grab a slot online.
334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH · Free parking