Your guide to NHS dental services in East Sussex
This includes:
• Finding a dentist delivering NHS treatment accepting patients
• Getting help with an urgent dental need
• Accessing emergency dental treatment
Finding the right route for you can depend on the type of dental care you need, as well as appointment availability in your area.
We also have a guide to NHS dental charges which can be found here .
How do I register with an NHS dentist?
The NHS has a search tool to help people find dentists.
Search results show which practices are currently accepting new NHS patients and whether urgent appointments are available.
Records are not always kept updated, so it’s often worth contacting practices shown as having availability directly for the most up-to-date information.
You don’t need to live in the same areas as your dentist and can use any dental practice for NHS dental treatment. To obtain an appointment at a dental practice, contact them directly to enquire about available appointments.
You do not permanently ‘register’ with a dentist in the way you would with a GP. Your dentist may choose to keep you on an informal list of regular patients and invite you back for regular check-ups.
Dental practices may decide to remove patients who do not regularly attend appointments from their lists but should make patients aware before any changes are made.
What if I can’t speak to a dentist (or don’t have one) but need urgent dental help?
If you do not have a regular dentist or are unable to find one with available appointments and need urgent dental help, please call the Sussex Dental Helpline on 0300 123 1663 (between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday) or email: kcht.dentalhelpdesk@nhs.net for more information.
When you call the helpline, you'll speak to a trained professional who can help you find a dentist taking on NHS patients or refer you for urgent or emergency care.
Where can I go for out-of-hours or emergency dental treatment?
The East Sussex Emergency NHS Dental Service provides out-of-hours treatment for residents of East Sussex with dental emergencies, with clinics provided in Eastbourne and Hastings.
Please be aware these services are by appointment only and do not accept walk-ins.
All calls are triaged and appointments are offered to callers who meet the criteria.
The Eastbourne service can be telephoned on 01323 449170. The service is open between 6.30pm and 10.30pm on weekday evenings with appointments between 7pm and 9pm. On weekends and bank holidays, the service is open between 1pm to 5.30pm with appointments between 2pm to 4pm.
The Hastings service can be telephoned on 01424 850792. The service is open between 6.30pm and 10.30pm on weekday evenings with appointments between 7pm and 9pm. On weekends and bank holidays, the service is open between 9am to 1.30pm with appointments between 10am to 12pm.
Dental help is also available from NHS 111, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NHS 111 can advise whether visiting A&E is necessary or whether other services or treatments may be able to support you.
When should I go to hospital?
Hospital Emergency Departments do not have specialist dental staff or equipment and should only be attended if you have:
• heavy bleeding
• injuries to your face, mouth, or teeth
• severe swelling, or increasing swelling of your mouth, lips, throat, neck or eye
Click here to find your nearest A&E.
If you're not sure whether you should go to A&E, contact NHS 111, who will be able to advise you.
If you’ve used a health or care service recently, please share your experience on our Feedback Centre. We want to hear what’s working well and where services can improve.
Contact Us
If you would like help to navigate health and care services, or you wish to share your experiences of health or social care with us, you can contact our Information and Signposting service on:
Telephone: 0333 101 4007
