Local treatment planning
Understand the treatment and the local access route before requesting care. The treating practice assesses suitability and confirms any appointment, fees and follow-up.
Urgent dental safety
Seek urgent dental assessment for severe or persistent pain, increasing swelling, a knocked-out adult tooth or bleeding after an extraction. Call 999 or go to A&E for serious facial injury, heavy bleeding that will not stop, or severe mouth or neck swelling affecting breathing or swallowing. Do not wait for an Odenta response.
For urgent dental problems, contact your usual practice or follow your local health board's dental helpline instructions. The correct route can vary by health-board area. The routine Dental Access Portal is not an emergency service: do not wait for an allocation if pain, swelling or injury needs attention.
Local patient planning
For urgent help in Barry, use your own dentist where possible or the current Cardiff and Vale CAV 24/7 dental instructions. The community dental clinic at Barry Hospital is not a walk-in alternative to triage. Explain any referral or care already underway and follow the venue given after assessment. Ask whether further treatment is needed after the immediate visit and which practice or community team should arrange it, rather than assuming the hospital will provide ongoing general care.
Cardiff and Vale retains its CAV 24/7 emergency dental assessment route for people without a dentist or needing help outside practice hours. Dental nurses assess the problem and may arrange a suitable venue; do not independently attend a hospital. The Community Dental Service requires professional referral and may allocate a clinic other than the nearest one. Routine NHS interest uses the Dental Access Portal.
If Barry Hospital is offered, ask the team about the facilities and assistance relevant to your needs before attending. Referral assessment, urgent triage and routine allocation can lead to different venues, so check each appointment separately. For continuing care after a community course, clarify who will undertake routine examinations and maintenance and how your dental records will be shared.
If you do not have an NHS dentist, the Welsh Dental Access Portal lets eligible people register interest in routine NHS care. Health boards allocate places when they become available. Check the official eligibility and application guidance, including applications for children or someone you care for. Keep using your usual practice if you already have one.
Understand dental access in WalesLocal access sources checked . These independent public services are separate from DAN participation. Follow their current instructions.
A dental professional assesses the problem, your symptoms and relevant medical history.
Prompt assessment can identify whether pain, swelling, trauma or a broken restoration needs urgent treatment.
An online request is not a diagnosis and does not guarantee a same-day appointment.
Ask whether the quoted fee covers assessment only or includes X-rays and immediate treatment.
This is general information. Your clinician assesses the problem, explains alternatives and agrees your individual plan.
Read the complete emergency dentist guide
For dental practices
Apply through DAN, complete onboarding and control your public profile, services and patient requests. Your practice decides whether it can offer an appointment.
Apply to join DAN