Dental Emergency Chard

• Call the SpaDental Chard phone number: 01460 61671
• Our answer machine will give you advice.

• Contact the practice on: 01460 61671
• Our answer machine will give you specific instructions to follow.
• If you are more than fifteen miles away from your dental practice call the dental helpline.
  • Dental Helpline numbers for SpaDental Plan patients are:
    • In the UK: 0800 525 631
    • Overseas: +44 1747 820841

• Always be clear about the cost from your treating dentist before you begin treatment.
• Be sure you know what is included in the fee quoted to you.
• Also, ask about costs for additional treatments that you may need later.

• Be able to describe the problem.
• Give details of any known medication.
• Know your medical and health history.
• Be honest about alcohol intake or illegal substances.

This is a common emergency. While a chipped tooth is not urgent, a tooth that is knocked out needs urgent attention.

• Apply pressure to the tooth site to control bleeding.
• Use a cold compress to control swelling.
• Put the tooth in a container covered with a little cow’s milk or saliva.
• Only touch the crown of the tooth, not the root.
• An adult may be able to store the tooth between the gum and lip.
• Try to see a dentist within an hour, as the tooth can sometimes be replanted.

• The NHS advice is to only visit A&E for dental care in ‘serious’ circumstances, such as:
  • severe pain (when self-administered pain relief is inadequate or not possible for medical reasons)
  • heavy bleeding
  • injuries to the face, mouth or teeth.

• The NHS emergency helpline is there 24/7 for advice or help:
  • In England call 111

• The NHS charges the Band 1 rate for emergency treatment.
• Details of the NHS current charges
• The emergency dentist will manage pain and do what is clinically essential to solve the immediate problem.
• Any further treatment will not be counted as urgent and will be charged according to the Band 1, 2 or 3 rates.
• If you have NHS payment exemptions, then these apply to emergency care.

• The NHS does not usually count the following as a dental emergency:
  • toothache
  • broken denture
  • chipped tooth
  • lost crown or filling.

If your emergency is not urgent, then make an appointment to visit the practice during opening hours. We keep some appointment times free for emergency patients each day.

• Call the surgery as early in the morning as possible.
• Phone early as these slots are on a first call basis and soon fill up during the day.
• Call the practice on 01460 61671 to arrange an appointment on the same day.
• We aim to see emergency patients within 24 hours.

• Emergency patients not registered with us are charged a fee which covers treatment (e.g. an extraction) needed to solve the immediate problem.
• Our registered patients make the emergency appointment, and then pay the fee for the treatment.
• If follow-up treatment is needed, the patient receives a full treatment plan outlining procedures and costs.
• SpaDental Chard’s payment guideline for adults:
  • emergency appointment for a registered patient is a minimum of £33,
  • emergency appointment for a non- registered patient is a minimum of £157.
•  Children are registered as NHS patients.

• Ask a pharmacist for advice on pain medication.
• Check any medication you have been prescribed, and follow the recommended dosage.
• Take care if you take non-prescription painkillers.
  • Follow the instructions for use.
  • Ask a healthcare professional about compatibility with other medications.
  •  Remember:
    • A painkiller only disguises the problem.
    • Do not rely on them, and
    • Do not avoid treatment.
• Rinse the mouth with salty water.
• Avoid things that are very hot, cold, sweet or spicy.
• Eat soft foods to avoid pressure.
• Try some gum numbing gel (if there’s a chemist open).

• Practice’s emergency appointment – call: 01460 61671
• Practice’s private payment information.

Out of hours emergency support service for the Chard area

• Call the Freephone 111 service.
• Simply dial 111.

NHS Dental Access Centres:

• Dental Access Centres: 
  • Taunton Dental Access Centre, Park Gate House, 35B E Reach, Taunton TA1 3ES     Tel: 01823 346116
  • Bridgewater Dental Access Centre, Southwood House, 2-4 Taunton Rd, Bridgwater TA6 3LS    Tel: 01278 411640
• Pharmacies: 
  • Lloyds Pharmacy, 59 Fore St, Chard TA20 1QA    Tel: 01460 63051
  • Lloyds Pharmacy, Stringfellows Gallery, Holyrood St, Chard TA20 2AJ Tel: 01460 63089
  • Boots Pharmacy, 5 Fore St, Chard TA20 1PH    Tel: 01460 63114

Local doctors:

• Springmead Surgery, Summerfields Rd, Chard TA20 2EW    Tel: 01460 63380
• Essex House Medical Centre, 59 Fore Street, Chard, TA20 1QA Tel: 01460 63071
• Tawstock Medical Centre, St Marys Crescent, Chard, TA20 2SZ    Tel: 01460 67763

Hospitals:

• Chard Hospital (Minor Injuries), Chard, TA20 1NF    Tel: 01460 238220
• Musgrove Park Hospital (A&E), Parkfield Drive, Taunton, TA1  5DA Tel: 01823 333444

Local social services:

• Children’s Services contact Somerset County Council,  Tel: 03001232224 – option 1
  • Out of hours Emergency contact: Tel: 01452614194
• Adult Services contact Somerset County Council,   Tel: 03001232224 – option 2
  • Out of hours Emergency contact:   Tel: 014520614194

Police:

• non-emergency number: 101
• in an emergency: 999.