Dental Emergencies

What counts as a dental emergency

A dental emergency is a problem that needs prompt attention to relieve pain, stop bleeding, or prevent an infection or injury from getting worse. Common examples include:

• Severe or uncontrolled tooth or facial pain
• Swelling in the mouth, face, or neck
• Bleeding that does not stop
• A knocked-out, broken, or badly damaged tooth
• Signs of a spreading infection, such as fever with facial swelling

Some symptoms are medical emergencies. If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling that is affecting your eye or throat, or uncontrolled bleeding, call 999 or go to A&E immediately. If you are not sure how urgent your situation is, call NHS 111 — they can assess your symptoms and direct you to the right care.

What an emergency consultation involves

When you book an emergency or urgent appointment through OpenWide, you are booking an assessment appointment with a dental practice. During this appointment the dentist assesses the problem and may provide immediate pain relief or temporary treatment. It is an assessment, and it is not a guarantee that any particular treatment will be carried out at that visit.

What OpenWide is — and is not

OpenWide is a dental directory and booking platform. We help you find and book appointments with independent dental practices.

OpenWide is not a healthcare provider. We do not provide dental treatment, diagnoses, or clinical advice, and we do not assess how urgent or serious your symptoms are. Any information on this Platform is provided for general information only. It does not constitute medical or dental advice and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis, advice, or treatment from a qualified dental or medical professional. OpenWide does not make any clinical or health-related recommendations. Always rely on the advice of a suitably qualified professional, and in an emergency contact the emergency services.

We cannot guarantee you will be seen

Booking or requesting an appointment through OpenWide does not guarantee that you will be seen, or that you will be seen within any particular timeframe. Appointments are provided by independent practices, subject to their availability and their own policies.

Some practices operate a two-step confirmation process, where your request is only an appointment request until the practice reviews and accepts it. In those cases your appointment is not secured until you receive confirmation from the practice.

If your situation is urgent, do not wait for a confirmation or for an available appointment. Call NHS 111 for urgent dental advice, call 999 in a life-threatening emergency, or contact a practice directly.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• OpenWide does not assess, triage, or make any judgement about the severity or urgency of your symptoms or condition
• We are not responsible or liable for any delay in obtaining an appointment or treatment, or for any practice being unable to see you
• We are not liable for the quality, safety, or outcome of any treatment or care you receive from a practice found through the Platform
• We are not liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from reliance on the directory, availability information, or any other information on the Platform, or from using the Platform in place of seeking appropriate urgent or emergency care

Nothing in this notice or in our Terms of Use excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by law. This notice should be read together with our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and is governed by the laws of England and Wales.

In a life-threatening emergency

Call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. For urgent but non-life-threatening dental problems, call NHS 111.