Dental Access Scheme (DAS)
Emergency NHS dental care for unregistered patients
What is the Dental Access Scheme?
The Dental Access Scheme (DAS) is an HSC-funded initiative designed to provide emergency NHS dental care to patients who:
- Are not registered with any NHS dentist
- Have an urgent or pressing dental problem
The scheme was launched in August 2024 and is funded through 2027. In its first year (Aug 2024 – Aug 2025), over 30,500 patients were treated through DAS.
Who Can Access DAS?
You can use the Dental Access Scheme if:
- You are NOT registered with any NHS dentist (or have not been registered for 12+ months)
- AND you have a dental problem that needs urgent or pressing treatment:
- Urgent: Severe pain, swelling, infection, or trauma
- Pressing: Broken or missing tooth, lost filling, or other significant issue that affects eating/function
If you're already registered with an NHS dentist, you should contact that practice first — DAS is for unregistered patients only.
How to Access DAS
Step 1: Call a participating DAS practice
Phone a DAS-participating practice during working hours. Provide your name, postcode, and brief description of your problem.
No walk-ins: You must phone first. Walk-ins will not be seen.
Step 2: Book a DAS appointment
Tell the practice you don't have an NHS dentist and ask for a DAS appointment. They'll advise if your condition qualifies and offer an appointment (usually within 1–7 days).
Step 3: Attend your appointment
Attend on the scheduled date. Bring:
- Proof of identity (passport, driving licence, or similar)
- Proof of address (utility bill, council tax letter, or similar)
- If you qualify for benefits, bring your HC2 or HC3 certificate (if you have one)
Step 4: Receive treatment
The dentist will examine you and provide appropriate treatment (painkillers, antibiotics, filling, extraction, etc.). You'll be charged standard NHS fees (80% of cost, max £384 per course of treatment).
What Problems Qualify?
Urgent Conditions (Treated Immediately)
- Severe uncontrolled dental pain
- Facial swelling or infection
- Trauma (broken tooth, knocked-out tooth)
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Difficulty eating or drinking due to dental problem
Pressing Conditions (Treated Soon)
- Broken tooth affecting appearance or function
- Lost filling affecting eating
- Cracked tooth causing pain
- Loose tooth
- Difficulty speaking due to dental issue
Participating DAS Practices
37 practices in Northern Ireland participate in DAS. These include practices across all five Health and Social Care Trust areas.
Use our search function on the homepage to find participating DAS practices in your area. Participating practices will have a "DAS" indicator.
DAS practices confirmed by phone (April 2026 survey)
In our April 2026 phone survey of 325 NI general practices, 6 practices confirmed they participate in DAS — one in each Trust except Northern (Northern Trust patients are typically directed to Dalriada Urgent Care). 5 of the 6 were currently accepting new DAS referrals at the time of the call:
- Elite Arches Dental Clinic, Belfast (BT4 1AQ) — accepting new DAS referrals
- Twin Spires Dental Surgery, Belfast (BT13 2JF) — accepting new DAS referrals
- Castlewellan Dental Care, Castlewellan (BT31 9DX, South Eastern) — accepting new DAS referrals
- North Street Dental Care, Lurgan (BT67 9AH, Southern) — accepting new DAS referrals (also accepting new NHS registrations)
- Church Place Dental, Lurgan (BT66 6EY, Southern) — DAS list currently full
- Orchard Family Dental, Limavady (BT49 9DB, Western) — accepting new DAS referrals
This is not the full list of 37 DAS-participating practices — it's the subset we've been able to confirm by direct phone contact. Other practices may also participate. Always phone first to confirm availability and qualifying criteria.
Can't Find a DAS Practice?
If you can't find a participating practice nearby or they're fully booked, contact your local Health and Social Care Trust for support.
Cost of DAS Treatment
DAS treatment follows standard NHS charges:
- You pay 80% of the treatment cost
- You pay up to a maximum of £384 per course of treatment
- Some patients are exempt or eligible for help (under 18, pregnant, on certain benefits, etc.)
The practice will tell you the estimated cost before treatment. See our NHS Charges page for full details.
Practice Payments for DAS
Important note: The HSC provides additional funding to practices for DAS appointments:
- Urgent appointment: £150 payment to practice
- Pressing appointment: £100 payment to practice
- Asylum seeker/refugee: Additional £50 supplement
This helps incentivise practices to participate and ensure capacity for unregistered patients.
After Your DAS Appointment
Will I Be Registered with the Practice?
Not automatically. Your DAS appointment is a one-off emergency treatment. However, if you wish to register with the practice as a regular NHS patient, ask at your appointment. Many practices will allow you to register if they're accepting new patients.
What if I Need Follow-Up Treatment?
If you need further treatment:
- Register with an NHS dentist to receive ongoing care
- Use DAS again if you have another urgent/pressing problem and are still unregistered (no limit on how many times you can use DAS)
- Contact your local HSCT for help if no practices are accepting
DAS vs Emergency Dental Service
DAS and the Out-of-Hours Emergency Dental Service are different:
| Feature | DAS | Emergency Service |
|---|---|---|
| When | Working hours only (Mon–Fri, standard times) | Evenings, weekends, bank holidays (out-of-hours) |
| Who can use | Unregistered patients only with urgent/pressing condition | Any patient (registered or unregistered) with severe pain/emergency |
| Type of care | Diagnosis and treatment of urgent/pressing conditions | Pain relief and emergency treatment (may be limited) |
| Cost | Standard NHS charges (80%, max £384 per course) | May be higher or private rates |
| How to access | Phone a DAS practice during working hours | Call emergency number or HSC emergency clinic |