NHS dentistry

How to find routine dental services and get urgent dental care.

We know that many people are finding it hard to get routine NHS dental care right now. This is a national problem. We are looking for ways to make this better.

You can look for an NHS dentist at nhs.uk and see which practices have appointments available for new patients.

Here are some important things to know about making an appointment for routine dental care:

  • you can ask for an appointment at any NHS dentist
  • you do not have to use the practice closest to you or one you have been to before
  • you do not have to register with a dentist in the same way that you do with a GP 

Each practice will be able to tell you how long you are likely to wait for an appointment. Dental practices do not have to keep waiting lists but they will tell you if they have one and ask if you would like to join.  

The NHS provides dental treatment that you need to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy and free of pain.

There is more information about the treatments this includes here.

Adults should ideally have a check-up at least once every two years and children at least once a year.

Some people can get free NHS dental treatment. Some people may only have to pay part of the cost.

There is more information about who can get free treatment or help with costs here.

Over-the-counter medicines should be used to ease toothache until you can make an appointment with a dentist. A pharmacist can give you advice on the best pain relief for your needs.

You should not visit your GP for toothache as they will not be able to give you dental care.

Patients are not registered with a dentist in the same way they are with a GP. 

This means that dentists are only responsible for patients during a course of treatment. The practice does not have to see patients for ongoing routine treatment, including check-ups. 

Dentists can only take on new patients for routine care if they have appointments available.

As dentists have an independent contract to provide NHS dental services, we cannot tell them how to manage their NHS patient lists and appointments. 

If your regular dentist is not able to give you an appointment, you can look for other dentists at nhs.uk. 

Dental practices manage their own NHS appointments and waiting lists. We cannot ask them to see patients or help you to make an appointment. 

Our role is to plan and buy dental services for people living in the North East and North Cumbria. That includes general dental care, urgent dental care and community dental services for adults and children with special needs. 

NHS dental services are provided by a network of individual practices. Each practice has a contract to deliver a specific amount of NHS dental care. Practices can hand back their contracts at any time. If they do that, we will try to find other practices to deliver NHS dental care in the area.

What should I do if I have an urgent dental problem?

You should make an urgent dental appointment if you have:

  • a very painful tooth or pain in your face that is not controlled by over-the-counter medicine
  • a tooth infection or swelling in your mouth

Lost fillings, crowns or bridges are not urgent dental problems so you will need to book a routine appointment with a dentist to treat those.

Contact an NHS dentist for urgent care

The first place to try is an NHS dentist. They provide urgent care appointments during their normal working hours.

You should contact your regular dentist if you have one or you can find an NHS dentist at nhs.uk.

The dental practices listed below have additional appointments to care for people with high clinical needs, including looked after children and vulnerable adults.

You can contact any of the practices listed to ask for an appointment. The number of urgent appointments available at each practice will vary across the days and weeks, so we cannot guarantee an appointment will always be available.

Practice name Address    Telephone number
Alpha Dental Studio Alpha Dental Group, Unit 3, 47 Gibside, Chester-Le- Street, DH2 2TT 0191 388 7092
Castle Dental Practice Ltd. Castle Dental Practice Ltd, 39 Galgate, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8EJ 01833 631 140
Dental Avenue Dental Surgery, 5 Clyde Terrace, Spennymoor, County Durham, DL16 7SE 07388 814 223
Framwellgate Dental Surgery Limited 21 Front Street, Framwellgate Moor, Durham, DH1 5EJ 0191 386 9436
Front Street Dental Practice Partnership 6 Front Street, Consett, County Durham, DH8 5AQ 01207 503 020
Honour Health Partnership Dental Surgery, 13 Front Street, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 0JE 01207 232 725
Mr Hs Basra Woodham Dental Surgery, 1 St Elizabeth's Close, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, DL5 4UE 01325 300 468
Mydentist Yoden Way Peterlee 30 Yoden Way, Peterlee, SR8 1AL 0191 586 2918
Mydentist - Framwellgate Bridge Bridge House Dental Surgery, 1st floor, Bridge House, Framwellgate Bridge, Durham, DH1 4SJ 0191 384 7605
Number One Dental Surgery 307 Durham Road, Consett, County Durham, DH8 5NW 01207 500 528
Pelton Lane End Dental Practice Partnership Roseberry School House, Pelton Lane Ends, Pelton, Chester Le Street, County Durham, DH2 1NP 0191 370 3845
Princess Road Dental Practice 8 Princess Road, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7SP 0191 513 0301
Smile In Durham Dental Surgery, 3 New Durham Road, Stanley, County Durham, DH9 7UQ 01207 234 228
Wray & Mckenna Ltd Dental Surgery, 6 The Avenue, Wheatley Hill, Durham, DH6 3NT 01429 820 308

 

Practice name Address    Telephone number
IDH 406 Ltd Aglionby Street Dental Practice, Aglionby Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1JP 01228 536 827
Whitecross Dental Care Limited, trading as Mydentist 36 Victoria Place, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 1EX 01228 534 031
Queen Street Dental Clinic 128 Queen Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7QF 01946 590 388
Whitecross Dental Care Limited Gloucester Yard Dental Centre, Penrith, CA11 7DE 01768 895 068

Practice name Address    Telephone number
Southend Avenue Dental Practice 12 Southend Avenue, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 7HL 01325 380 367

Practice name Address    Telephone number
Mr KS Bamrah 27A Jackson Street, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE8 1EE 0191 490 0818
Mr Ya Noib & Mr J Robinson Greencroft Lodge Dental Practice, Strathmore Road, Rowlands Gill, Tyne & Wear, NE39 1HX 01207 542 283
Bensham and Sunniside Dental Practices Bensham Dental Practice, 24 Saltwell Road, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE8 4XE 0191 477 1981
Crescent Dental Practice 3/4 The Crescent, Dunston, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE11 9SJ 0191 460 4182
Indental Practice Limited Dental Surgery, Fewster Square, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 8XQ 0191 469 2514
Low Fell Dental Practice 323 Durham Road, Low Fell, NE9 5AH 0191 491 0660
Mr B Ahmad & Mrs R Ahmas (prev Stobbs) Ryton Dental Clinic, 29 Dean Terrace, Ryton, Tyne & Wear, NE40 3HQ 0191 413 5490
Perfect Smile (Acorn) partnership Gateshead Dental Surgery, 15 Regent Terrace, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE8 1LU 0191 477 2007

 

Practice name Address    Telephone number
Hartlepool Dental Practice partnership Hartlepool Dental Practice partnership, 34 Victoria Road, Hartlepool, TS26 8DD 01429 861 327
Hartlepool Dental Practice partnership Hartlepool Dental Practice partnership, 29 Northgate, Hartlepool, TS24 0JT 01429 222 707
Lambert Coutts & Associates Dental Practice partnership Mydentist Grange Road, 4 Grange Road Hartlepool, TS26 8JA 01429 864 555
Mr N D Smith Dental Surgery, 223 Stockton Road, Hartlepool, TS25 1RR 01429 272 004

Practice name Address    Telephone number
Genix Healthcare Ltd Dental Surgery, 222 Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 3QW 01642 247 075

 

Practice name Address    Telephone number
Honour Health Partnership, Mr O Dhanoya 90 Osborne Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE2 2AP 0191 281 3913
Mr Aj Churm 137 The Dental Practice, 137 Kenton Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE3 4NQ 0191 285 7268
Mr P Brantingham and Mrs Ka Brantingham Seville Dental Practice, 6 Saville Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 8DQ 0191 232 0002
Mrs Kk Amlani Dental Surgery, 46 South View, West Denton, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE5 2BP 0191 267 4263
Mrs S Hyder Angel Dental Care, 6 Frenton Close, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, Ne5 1EH 0191 267 4647
Newcastle Dental Care Practice Partnership 3 St Marys Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 7PG 0191 232 4233
Perfect Smile Gateshead Partnership 44 Acorn Road, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE2 2DJ 0191 281 4444
Rundle Dental Care Rundle Dental Care, 522 Denton Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE15 7HJ 0191 228 0018
The Dental Care Clinic 369 Stamfordham Road, Westerhope Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE5 2LH 0191 286 9156
The Grange Dental Centre 59-61 Great North Road, Grange Park Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE3 2DQ 0191 213 0188
The Heaton and Blakelaw partnership Heaton Road Dental practice, Springfield Road, Blakelaw, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE5 3DS 0191 271 4959
Whitecross Dental Care Limited 1 & 2 Kenton Park Shopping Centre, Kenton Road, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 4RU 0191 285 4871
Whitecross Dental Care Limited The Dental Clinic, 34 Heaton Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE6 1SD 0191 265 5908

 

Practice name Address    Telephone number
Alpha Dental Fairfield partnership - Mr NK Diddee Alpha Dental Fairfield, Wellburn Road, Stockton on Tees, TS19 7PP 01642 587 646
Miss Em Allen Bishopton Lane Dental Practice, 21 Bishopton Lane, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1PS 01642 676 521
The Fairfield Dental Practice partnership (Mydentist Rimswell) Fairfield Dental Practice, 5A-6A Rimswell Parade, Stockton on Tees, TS19 7LB 01642 581 688
Whitecross Dental Care Limited Eaglescliffe Dental Centre, 13 Station Road, Easlgescliffe, Stockton on Tees, TS16 0BU 01642 790 540
Whitecross Dental Care Limited Ingleby Meadow Dental Practice, 19 Greenside, Lowfields, Ingleby Barwick, Stockton on Tees, TS17 0RR 01642 766 444
Whitecross Dental Care Limited Lysander House, Flacon Court Preston Farm Business Park, Stockton on Tees, TS18 3TX 01642 676 793

Practice name Address    Telephone number
Alistair Bartlett Dental Practice Limited Unit 5 6 Addington Drive, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear, NE28 9UY 0191 234 4041
Melita Dental Practice Limited Dental Surgery, 18 llfracombe Gardens, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE26 3SL 0191 252 1155
Mr La Nightingale Verne Road Dental Practice, 33-39 Verne Road, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE29 7LS 0191 296 1018
Perfect Smile Acorn partnership The Dental Practice, 24 Northumberland Square, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE30 1PW 0191 257 5290
Perfect Smile Gateshead parternship Laburnum Dental Practice, 96 Laburnum Avenue, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear, NE28 8HG 0191 262 4079
The Killingworth Dental Practice partnership Mydentist, Killingworth unit 20-21, The Killingworth Centre, Killingworth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE12 6YT 0191 268 6502
Watch Dental Benton 2 Manor Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE7 7XS 0191 266 1487
Whitecross Dental Care Limited 16 Laburnum Avenue, Tyne & Wear, NE28 8HQ 0191 262 3726

Practice name Address    Telephone number
Alison Brett Dental Care LLP Alison Brett Dental Care, 32 Woodhorn Road, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9AE 01670 855 550
Alistair Bartlett Dental Practice Limited Aqua Dental Care, 10A Milburn Road, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 0HD 01670 815 327
Highgate House Dental Practice partnership Highgate House Dental Practice, Highgate House, 7 Front Street West, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 5TZ 01670 822 100
JRP Jones and Assosciates Limited James RP Jones & Associates Limited, 4A Bridge Street, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1NB 01670 517 515
Mr P Brantingham and Mrs Ka Brantingham Newbiggin Dental Practice, 1 Gibson Street, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland, NE64 6PF 01670 815 549
Mr RG Smith Horizon Dental Clinic, 58 Beaconsfield Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 2DS 01670 352 136
Mr Su Chohan Northumberland Dental Health, Tweedmouth Clinic, Shielfield Terrace, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2EQ 01289 330 073
Northumbria Dental Care Limited 45 High Street, Northumberland, NE65 0LE 01665 710 678
Northumbria Dental Care Limited (Rothbury and Amble) 45 High Street, Northumberland, NE65 0LE 01665 710 678
The Linden Cottage partnership Dental Surgery, Linden Cottage, High Market, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 8NQ 01670 812 125
Whitecross Dental Care Limited Dental Surgery, 323 Cowpen Road, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 5EZ 01670 353 663

 

Practice name Address    Telephone number
Eston Dental Practice Dental Surgery, 15 Jubilee Road, Middlesbrough, TS6 9EP 01642 466 766 / 01642 469 688
Genix Healthcare Ltd Genix Healthcare Ltd, 16 The Wynd, Marske-By-The-Sea, Redcar, TS11 7LA 01642 484 662
Mr B Johnson Unit 2, Roseberry Shopping Centre, Redcar, TS10 4NY 01642 490 673
Park Avenue Dental Surgery 15 Park Avenue, Redcar, TS10 3LA 01642 477 000
Roseberry Dental Practice Roseberry Dental Surgery, 118 Westgate, Guisborough, TS14 6AW 01287 610 410
S Kathuria and G Chawla Coatham Dental Practice, 28 Coatham Road, Redcar, TS10 1RS 01642 484 546
Whitecross Dental Care Limited Guisborough Dental Centre, Guisborough, TS14 6AY 01287 632 699

Practice name Address    Telephone number
1A Dental Practice partnership 1A The Dental Practice, 64 Fowler Street, South Shields, NE33 1PD 0191 406 0008
Dr I Davies & Dr L Ward Grange Road West Dental Practice, 6 Grange Road West, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear, NE32 3JA 0191 430 0207
Mr I Gordon & Mr B L Wild Hebburn Dental Practice, 4 Park Road, Hebburn, Tyne & Wear, NE31 2UL 0191 483 2509
SRDP Limited Mydentist Sunderland Road, 78 Dean Road, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE33 4AR 0191 455 4800
Victoria Road Dental Practice Victoria Road Dental Practice, 88 Victoria Road, Hebburn, Tyne & Wear, NE31 1LR 0191 483 2605

Practice name Address    Telephone number
B Ahmad & R Ahmad The Fulwell Dental Practice, 162 Fulwell Road, Fulwell, Sunderland, SR6 9QS 0191 548 8175
Eden Villas Dental Practice Partnership Eden Villas Dental Practice, 6 Eden Villas, Washington, NE38 7EJ 0191 417 7112
Mr JI Gamon & Mrs S V Gamon Hetton Dental Practice, 84 Station Road, Hetton Le Hole, Houghton Le Spring, DH5 9JB 0191 526 2589
Mr S Bedi & Mrs S Bedi The Dental Centre, 14 Front Street, Washington, Tyne & WEar, NE37 2BA 0191 416 0403
Mr Ks Bamrah Dental Surgery, 21 Chiswick Square, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR5 3PZ 0191 549 3219
Mr Ya Nojib & Mr Nightingale Chester Road Dental Practice, 217 Chester Road, Sunderland, SR4 7TU 0191 514 2727
Neha Devalia & Gurvinderpreet Kaur Sidhu Grangetown Family Dental Health, 41 Windsor Terrace, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR2 9QF 0191 514 1717
Park Lane Dental Group Fencehouses Dental Practice, 68 Station Avenue North, Fencehouses, Houghton Le Spring, Tyne & Wear, SH4 6HT 0191 385 2622
Southwick & Whitburn Dental Practice partnership The Green Dental Surgery, 44FD The Green, Southwick, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR 5 2HY 0191 548 5809
The Mill Dental Practice partnership The Mill Dental Practice, 154 Newcastle Road, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR5 1NA 0191 548 4501

 

Contact NHS 111 for urgent care

If you cannot find an urgent appointment at an NHS dentist near you, visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

The NHS 111 health advisor will talk to you about your needs.

If you do not need help right away, we may give you advice on how to treat the problem yourself until you can get an appointment.

If you do need urgent help, we may be able to find an appointment for you at an out-of-hours treatment service where a dentist can fix the main problem you have.

Most general hospitals do not have an on-call dental service so you should visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111 for emergency dental care.

How can I avoid too many trips to the dentist?

Taking good care of your teeth and gums can help. This includes:

  • brushing your teeth twice a day
  • cleaning between your teeth
  • cutting down on sugar, smoking and alcohol

Click here for advice on keeping your teeth and gums healthy.