Emergency dental care

Emergency dental care, Sheffield: what to do and how to get help

A short decision guide for when a tooth goes wrong: is it an emergency, what to do in the next hour, how to be seen today, what it costs, and what to do at night.

Call 0114 288 2121 Book a same-day appointment

A worried patient calling the emergency line

5.0 on Google · 400+ reviewsOpen 8am–8pm, 7 daysCQC & GDC registeredFree parking at the door15 min from Sheffield city centre

Access & advice

Is this urgent? What should I do right now?

Same-day emergency appointments

How urgent access works and how it is prioritised.

Emergency dental fees

What the £30 appointment includes and treatment starting prices.

Weekend & out-of-hours care

What to do when the problem starts outside normal hours.

What counts as a dental emergency?

Urgency is about risk, not just pain.

Temporary fixes before your appointment

Dentist-approved steps to take while you wait.

Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, Principal Dentist · GDC 301711 · Last reviewed April 2026

Is it an emergency, or can it wait until morning?

Three questions sort most cases. Is there swelling? Is the pain stopping you sleeping or working despite painkillers? Has a tooth been knocked out, broken or loosened? A yes to any of them means ring today. A knocked-out adult tooth is the one true race against the clock: the cells on the root survive about an hour in milk and far less dry, so that is a phone-from-the-car situation.

Problems that can usually wait a day or two: a chipped tooth that is not painful, a lost filling with mild sensitivity, a small ulcer, gums that bleed when brushing, a wobbly baby tooth. They still need seeing, and ‘wait’ means a day or two, not a month, because small holes turn into nerve problems.

In between are the ones people underestimate. A tooth that has stopped hurting after weeks of ache: the nerve has probably died and an abscess is forming. A bad taste or a pimple on the gum: an abscess is draining. Pain on biting on one tooth: often a crack that will get bigger. Our guide to what counts as a dental emergency takes each symptom in turn.

What to do in the next hour

Take paracetamol and, if it is safe for

Take paracetamol and, if it is safe for you, ibuprofen, as directed on the packet. Taken together they work better for dental pain than either alone. Do not put aspirin on the gum; it burns the tissue.

Knocked-out adult tooth

hold it by the white part, rinse briefly in milk if dirty, push it back into the socket if you can, or keep it in milk or inside your cheek. Never water, never a tissue. Baby teeth are not put back.

Broken tooth

keep the piece, avoid hot and cold, and cover a sharp edge with sugar-free gum or a temporary filling kit from a chemist.

Lost crown

clean it, keep it, do not glue it. We can usually recement the crown if you bring it with you.

Swelling

a cold compress on the outside of the face, sleep propped up, no heat. If it is growing by the hour, read the A&E section below.

Bleeding socket after an extraction

bite hard on damp gauze or a clean folded handkerchief for 20 to 30 minutes without checking. Do not rinse.

More on each of these, and the things that make matters worse, in temporary fixes before your appointment.

How to be seen today

Ring 0114 288 2121. Reception will ask what has happened and offer a time; around eight in ten emergency patients are treated the same day, not just examined. You do not need to be registered or referred. If you prefer, you can book a same-day emergency appointment online. The practice is at 334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, on the A6102 between Oughtibridge and Stocksbridge, with free parking at the door; travel times from each area are on areas we cover.

If you would rather try the NHS first, your own NHS dentist should offer an urgent slot if they have one, and NHS 111 can triage you to an urgent care service out of hours. Be prepared for a wait and for a slot that may not be today or nearby. The Sheffield-specific picture is on our Sheffield emergency dentist page.

What emergency dental care costs

The emergency examination is £30 and includes X-rays. It is a 15-minute look, test and explanation, and it does not include treatment. Treatment is priced on top, quoted in writing before it starts, and you can stop at the diagnosis if you want time to think. After 6pm on weekdays and at weekends an out-of-hours charge applies.

Typical figures: an extraction from £120, the first stage of an emergency root canal from £200, a white filling from £150, a wisdom tooth extraction from £350. The full list, and what changes the price, is in emergency dental fees. Finance from 0% over 6 to 18 months is available through Tabeo, subject to status, if the bill lands at a bad moment.

Evenings, weekends and bank holidays

We are open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday, including most bank holidays, so ‘out of hours’ at Deepcar means after 8pm. Between 8pm and 8am the line is answered by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, the principal dentist, personally. He will talk you through the night and book the first morning slot. Being treated overnight is not routine; if the problem is dangerous rather than painful, he will send you to hospital. The detail is in weekend and out-of-hours care.

A small number of days each year are exceptions, and the answerphone message says so. Whatever the day, the overnight line still answers.

Signs that need A&E rather than a dentist

Go to A&E or call 999 if swelling is closing an eye, spreading into the neck or under the tongue, or crossing to the other side of the face; if you cannot swallow your own saliva or are having trouble breathing; if you have a fever and feel unwell with a swelling; if bleeding has not stopped after 30 minutes of firm pressure; if you may have broken your jaw; or if you were knocked out when the tooth was damaged. These are the signs of an infection or injury outgrowing the mouth, and a dental surgery is not equipped for them. The Northern General Hospital on Herries Road, S5 7AU, has the maxillofacial unit for Sheffield.

For everything short of that, a dentist will do more for you than a hospital, and faster. Our swollen face guide explains exactly where the line sits, and how emergency dentistry works explains what happens once you are in the chair.

Questions, answered

Common questions

What counts as a dental emergency?

Pain that painkillers do not control, any facial swelling, a tooth knocked out or loosened, a broken tooth with pain or a sharp edge, and bleeding that will not stop. If in doubt, ring and describe it; reception will tell you whether it needs to be today.

Should I go to A&E for toothache?

No. A&E cannot treat the tooth and will usually give painkillers and tell you to see a dentist. Go to A&E only for swelling affecting the eye, breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding or a suspected broken jaw.

Can I get emergency dental treatment on a Sunday in Sheffield?

Yes. Deepcar Dental Care is open 8am to 8pm on Sundays and holds emergency slots every day. An out-of-hours charge applies at weekends and is quoted before you book.

How quickly can I be seen?

Usually the same day, often within a few hours of ringing. If you call after 8pm the overnight line books you into the first morning slot.

What painkillers are best for toothache?

Paracetamol and ibuprofen together, each taken as directed on the packet, if both are safe for you. They work on different pathways and the combination is better than either alone. Nothing should be placed on the gum itself.

What if I cannot afford treatment today?

Have the £30 examination so you know what is wrong, and ask about a temporary measure to hold things until you can proceed. 0% finance over 6 to 18 months is available through Tabeo, subject to status.

Do I need to be an existing patient?

No. Emergency appointments are open to anyone, and no registration or referral is needed.

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.

Call 0114 288 2121 See today’s emergency slots

5.0 on Google from 400+ reviews

334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH · Free parking