A network of centres has been created across the South West for people who need help for urgent and emergency dental conditions, including severe pain and infection.

The urgent dental centres, commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement, are fully staffed and equipped to provide treatment while high-street surgeries have their doors closed due to covid-19 (coronavirus).

To get access, people should phone their own dentist to be assessed; there is no drop-in access.

All NHS dental surgeries should be contactable, even while their doors are closed.

Out of usual surgery hours, people should call NHS111.

Those without a dentist or who cannot get through to their usual surgery, should call their local helpline (see below).

The initial phone assessment will help the dentist decide whether someone needs to be seen immediately or within 24 hours, or can be booked in later for an appointment.

Conditions needing immediate treatment might include:

• Dental infection/fever/swelling, especially if it might affect the airway
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Injury

In some cases, treatment might be needed in hospital.

The locations have been chosen to cover the South West as best as possible, within limitations posed by staffing, premises and equipment. This means that some patients will need to travel, though further centres are being added to reduce journey time.

The hubs are in:

• Cheltenham
• Chippenham
• Swindon
• Bath
• Bristol
• Weston super Mare
• Taunton
• Bridgwater
• Dorchester
• Bournemouth
• Exeter
• Plymouth
• Torquay
• Barnstaple
• Bodmin

If you need urgent dental care, contact NHS 111. To find an NHS dentist taking on new patients, visit the NHS webpage Find a Dentist.