A dental emergency on a trip is a clinical problem, not a travel problem
Developing acute tooth pain, fracturing a tooth on a hard piece of food, or losing a crown while you are away from home can be alarming — particularly when you are unfamiliar with the local healthcare system. This article is a short, practical guide for visitors to London on how private urgent dental care works, what to do in the first hour, and how to use your travel insurance to cover the cost. It is written from a clinical perspective rather than as a travel guide.
For the full overview of how we care for visiting patients, see our dedicated page on the emergency dentist in London for tourists and visitors.
Is it actually a dental emergency?
The clinical definition of a dental emergency is narrower than most people realise. Genuine emergencies include:
Experiencing these symptoms?
Delaying treatment can lead to tooth loss. We have slots available today.
- Severe, unrelenting tooth pain that is not controlled by over-the-counter analgesics
- Facial swelling or swelling of the gum (a possible dental abscess)
- A tooth that has been knocked out, displaced or pushed into the socket
- A fractured tooth with exposed nerve, sharp edges cutting the tongue, or bleeding
- A crown, bridge or filling that has come out
- Uncontrolled bleeding following a recent extraction
- Trauma to the lip, tongue or other soft tissues
Mild sensitivity to cold, a small chip that is not sharp, or a niggling discomfort that has been present for weeks generally does not require same-day private treatment and can usually wait until you return home. If you are unsure, a brief triage call to a clinic is the most efficient way to find out.
What to do in the first hour
The single most useful thing is to call a private dental practice and describe the problem. A receptionist working with a clinician can usually tell you within a few minutes whether you need to be seen the same day. Most central London private practices, including our own, hold same-day slots specifically for urgent presentations.
In the meantime, the following self-care steps are appropriate for most common emergencies:
Meet Dr. Yasha Shirazi
Principal Dentist at Emergency Dentist London
"We treat hundreds of dental emergencies every month. The sooner you come in, the easier the fix usually is."
Book an appointment with our team →- For pain: Take ibuprofen or paracetamol at the dose stated on the packet, provided you have no contraindications. Do not place aspirin directly on the gum — it causes a chemical burn.
- For a knocked-out adult tooth: Time matters. Hold the tooth by the crown (not the root), rinse very briefly with milk or saline if dirty, and either re-implant it into the socket immediately or transport it in milk. Call a dentist while you do this.
- For a lost crown or filling: Keep the restoration if you can find it. Avoid chewing on that side. A temporary dental cement from a pharmacy can seal the tooth for a few hours, but is not a substitute for clinical re-cementation.
- For swelling: Do not apply heat. A cool compress on the cheek can be comforting. Persistent or rapidly increasing facial swelling is a reason to be seen the same day.
Our pages on walk-in dental care and out-of-hours appointments explain how same-day and evening access is structured at our practice.
You do not need an NHS number
This is the most common question visitors ask, so it is worth stating clearly: as a private practice, we do not require an NHS number, GP registration, proof of UK residency or a UK address to treat a visiting patient. The process is the same as for any private patient — a brief medical history at registration, a clinical assessment by a GDC-registered dentist, and a written estimate before any treatment begins.
Photo identification and a payment card are the only things you need to bring to the appointment.
Asking your hotel concierge to call
If you would rather not navigate the booking process yourself — particularly if you are in pain or in an unfamiliar city — most hotel concierges are happy to call on your behalf. Give them the number, ask them to relay your symptoms, and the clinic will book the appointment and send the confirmation back to the hotel.
This is a common pathway and does not affect the cost of treatment. We are simply receiving an introduction; the consultation itself is the same as if you had called directly.
Travel insurance and treatment documentation
We do not accept, process or bill any insurance company directly. Payment is taken at the clinic at the time of treatment, and you claim from your own travel-insurance provider afterwards.
Many travel-insurance policies that include emergency dental cover may reimburse the cost of urgent pain relief, infection control or trauma stabilisation while you are abroad. Most do not cover elective work, cosmetic treatment or routine check-ups carried out during a trip. Whether your claim is accepted, the amount reimbursed, any policy excess and eligibility are matters between you and your insurer.
To support your claim, we provide a written treatment statement and proof of payment that includes the treating clinician's GDC registration number, treatment description and procedure codes where applicable, fees in pounds sterling, and the practice details. This is the type of documentation most international travel insurers request when assessing a claim. If your insurer has supplied a specific claim form, bring it along and we will complete the clinical sections at the end of your visit.
Real Patient Result: Emergency White Filling
Treatment by Dr Kamran
We are not affiliated with, or an approved provider for, any travel-insurance company.
Treatment carried out abroad before your visit
A subset of visiting patients contact us specifically because dental work carried out overseas has developed a complication. The most common presentations are crowns or bridges that have de-cemented, post-extraction infection, persistent sensitivity after veneer or composite work, and ill-fitting prostheses.
Our role in these cases is focused and clinical. We carry out an examination, take any radiographs that are clinically indicated, and address the immediate problem — pain, infection, mobility, or seal of the affected tooth. Where the broader treatment plan needs to be revisited, we provide a written clinical summary you can take back to your original treating dentist on return. We do not provide medico-legal reports or opinions for disputes with overseas providers.
Pricing in GBP
A new patient emergency examination at our practice is £30. A dental X-ray, where clinically indicated, is £20 for guest patients and £10 for members. Treatment is quoted in writing before it begins and depends on the clinical findings. As a guide, fillings start from £92.50, simple extractions from £125 and crown re-cementation from £75. Full pricing is set out on our pricing page.
Major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay, Google Pay and contactless are accepted. Fees are charged in pounds sterling and your card provider will apply its own exchange rate.
When a single visit is enough
Many emergency presentations can be resolved completely in one appointment — pain relief, temporary or permanent restoration of a broken tooth, re-cementation of an intact crown, dressing of an infected tooth, suturing of a soft-tissue laceration. More complex treatment such as definitive root canal therapy or a new crown may require a second visit, or be planned as a temporary stabilisation so you can complete the work with your usual dentist on return.
Whichever pathway is appropriate, it will be discussed with you at the assessment, including the cost and the expected outcome of each option.
Calling ahead is the right first step
In short: if you are visiting London and develop dental pain, swelling or trauma, the most useful thing you can do is pick up the phone — or ask your hotel reception to. A brief triage conversation will tell you within a few minutes whether you need to be seen today, what the likely treatment is, and roughly what it will cost. Everything else flows from that call.
To read more about how our practice cares for visiting patients, see our page on the emergency dentist in London for tourists and visitors, or call 020 3137 6356 to speak to our team directly.
Disclaimer
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every patient is different, so symptoms and treatment options should be assessed by a qualified dental professional during a clinical examination. No specific outcomes are guaranteed.