NHS Dental Care

Routine Dental Care

If you are not already registered with a dentist, you can phone 0131 537 8444 to obtain details of dental practices which are registering NHS patients in Lothian.

Emergency Dental Care

If you are registered with a dentist, you should first contact your practice.

If you are not registered with a dentist, or are unable to contact your dentist, an emergency service for the relief of pain only is available:

Adult patients aged 16 years and over

Chalmers Dental Centre
3 Chalmers Street
Edinburgh

Monday - Thursday, 9am - 4.45pm and on Friday, 9am to 4.15pm

Chalmers Dental Centre tries to minimise waiting times to see a dentist by operating a system of triage. If you arrive at the department in need of urgent dental treatment you will first be seen by a triage nurse who will assess your symptoms and either provide you with advice or arrange for you to be seen by a dentist as soon as possible. At busy times, there may be a delay between the time you are seen by the triage nurse and the first available time that you can see a dentist. As the Centre is usually very busy you are advised to attend early in the day to allow time for this assessment and to arrange for any treatment to be carried out, if necessary.

Child patients aged under 16 years

Children's Department
Edinburgh Dental Institute
Level 3, Lauriston Building
Lauriston Place
Edinburgh

Monday to Friday 9.00-11am and 2-3.00pm

Evening & Weekends - West Lothian

All patients

Telephone NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24
Mon-Fri 6.00pm - 8.00am, and Friday 6.00pm to Monday 8.00am

The emergency service is only available for the relief of pain.

Charges for emergency dental treatment

You will be charged the standard NHS rate for any dental treatment you receive, so please bring a means of payment with you.

You will not have to pay if you are usually exempt from charges, but you will need to bring the correct form of proof with you. People normally exempt include those under 16, (18 and under if in full time education); and women who are pregnant or who have given birth in the past 12 months. You may be exempt if you receive certain state benefits. For more information, read "Are you entitled to help with health costs?" a leaflet you can pick up when visiting your GP or dentist.

Emergency treatment for the relief of pain rarely exceeds £30.