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.
Registered patients should contact their own dentist first. For unregistered patients with urgent or pressing dental conditions on weekdays, consult the current Dental Access Scheme information linked by nidirect. At weekends and bank holidays, follow the official Emergency Dental Clinic instructions. These are assessed services, not a promise of a walk-in appointment.
Local patient planning
For an urgent problem in Keady, Richhill or Tandragee, state the exact town and describe any difficulty travelling during the assessment conversation. A routine community transport enquiry is not an urgent clinical service and must not delay appropriate help. Follow the current HSC dental instructions, verify the offered clinic and ask about required accompaniment. After treatment, obtain the remaining plan and agree who will organise review, including how you will attend if that requires another journey.
Southern Trust's community dental service provides a route for a professional to discuss additional-needs care. A transport service does not establish dental eligibility, and a referral does not reserve a vehicle or an appointment. Use current HSC dental information for urgent or routine access and explain which of Keady, Richhill or Tandragee is the relevant starting point.
If normal transport is difficult, check the community transport information before relying on it for a particular visit. Discuss any escort or assistance needed with the dental team as well. For a multi-stage course, establish whether the same venue is used each time and how much notice is likely for reviews. Keep confirmed appointment details separate from proposed dates so travel is arranged only for care the receiving service has actually booked.
Ask dental practices about Health Service registration and use the official nidirect guidance to understand your options. Capacity varies, and a private visit does not necessarily include Health Service registration. Check whether each proposed treatment is under Health Service or private arrangements and request an explanation of costs before care.
Understand dental access in Northern IrelandLocal access sources checked . These independent public services are separate from DAN participation. Follow their current instructions.
This shared access guide is also linked from the places below. Public services can have their own boundaries and assessment rules. These links describe guidance, not DAN practice coverage or travel availability.
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