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These appointments are part of the 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments being rolled out across the country.

Patients who need urgent dental treatment in Kent and Medway can:

• phone their regular practice, if registered with a dentist. Some practices offer appointments at short notice.
• contact Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT), Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm on 0300 123 4412 or email kcht.dentalhelpdesk@nhs.net.
• phone Dentaline Out of Hours on 01634 890300, Monday to Sunday from 6 to 10.55pm and Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays from 8.30am to 1.25pm.

People do not need to be registered with the dental practice to receive urgent dental care.

Caroline Bastioni, Dental Clinical Strategy Lead at NHS Kent and Medway and General Dental Practitioner in Tonbridge, said: “We know how important it is to local people that they can get urgent dental care when they need it, so we're pleased to be offering these extra appointments through a simple, centralised system. The appointments are for urgent dental care only, so please check our website at www.kmhealthandcare.uk/dental for a list of eligible conditions.”

The appointments are for urgent conditions including:

• Severe toothache: persistent and intense pain that cannot be managed with over-the-counter painkillers.
• Dental abscess: infection causing swelling, pain, and possibly fever.
• Broken or knocked-out tooth: trauma resulting in a fractured or completely dislodged tooth.
• Bleeding in mouth following a dental procedure or an injury that doesn't stop by itself but can be self-controlled using local measures. Note that if bleeding cannot be self-controlled in any way, emergency care may be necessary.
• Swelling: significant swelling in the mouth or face that could indicate an infection.
• Fractured, loose or displaced fillings causing pain.
• Severe bleeding from gums, or acute conditions affecting other soft areas of the mouth (such as cheeks or tongue) which require urgent treatment.

• Other treatments may be available at the discretion of the dentist. These treatments may require extra visits and costs.

More information on urgent dental conditions at: www.kmhealthandcare.uk/dental