Can I go to A&E with a tooth problem?
Usually no. A&E departments don't have dentists and can't do dental work — for toothache, lost fillings or broken teeth they'll redirect you to the urgent dental route. A&E is right for exactly three things: swelling that affects breathing, swallowing or vision; serious facial injury; and bleeding that won't stop.
Why A&E can't help with teeth
Emergency departments treat medical emergencies; there's no dental chair, no dental X-ray workflow, and no one who can extract or fill a tooth. You'll wait hours to be told to ring the dental route you could have rung first.
The three exceptions
Facial swelling that's closing your throat or eye, trauma that may have broken your jaw, and uncontrollable bleeding are medical emergencies that happen to involve the mouth — go to A&E for those, without debating it.
The route that gets teeth treated
In north Cumbria, 111 books urgent dental centre slots. In south Cumbria (Barrow, Kendal, Ulverston), ring the dental helpline on 0300 1234010 in hours, 111 outside them. Urgent NHS treatment costs £27.90 unless you're exempt.
In pain in the north of the county right now? Emergency dentist Carlisle.