Whitefield Dental on Radcliffe New Road, open on Saturday mornings by pre-booking.
If toothache starts at the weekend, call your dental practice first, use NHS 111 if it's closed, and go to A&E if swelling affects your breathing, swallowing or eye. At Whitefield Dental we open on Saturday mornings, and our dental emergency appointments are there for exactly this.
Dental pain has a habit of arriving on a Friday evening, just as most practices close. As a dentist in Manchester with Saturday opening, we'd rather you knew what to do before it happens, whether the problem can wait until Monday or needs attention now.
Is it a dental emergency?
Not every toothache needs urgent treatment, but some problems shouldn't be left. These are the signs that point to urgent care:
Severe pain that painkillers aren't controlling
Swelling in the gum, face or jaw
A knocked-out or badly broken tooth
Bleeding that won't stop with pressure
A high temperature alongside dental pain
A lost filling, mild sensitivity or a small chip is uncomfortable but can usually wait for the next available appointment.
First, call your dental practice
Start with your own practice, even at the weekend. We're open on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm by pre-booking and until 8pm on Tuesdays, and the team can tell you whether you need to be seen and how soon. An emergency assessment at Whitefield Dental costs £75, or £45 if you're a registered patient, and includes a focused check, X-rays and a treatment plan.
If you reach voicemail, listen to the whole message. It often includes out-of-hours details.
If the practice is closed, use NHS 111
NHS 111 can assess your symptoms by phone or online and direct you to an urgent dental service in Greater Manchester if you need one. You can use it whether or not you're registered with an NHS dentist. The NHS page on getting urgent or emergency dental care explains how it works, and says that a knocked-out adult tooth should be seen within an hour.
When to go to A&E or call 999
Go to A&E or call 999 if you have heavy bleeding that won't stop, a serious injury to your face or mouth, or swelling of the mouth, throat or neck that makes it hard to breathe or open your eyes. Don't drive yourself. A spreading dental abscess can become serious, and our article on whether a dental infection can become serious explains why it shouldn't be left to settle.
What to do while you wait
Take over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the packet, and never put tablets against the gum, as they can burn it. Rinsing with warm salt water and avoiding very hot or sugary food can ease things. If an adult tooth has been knocked out, hold it by the crown, not the root, and put it back in the socket if you can. If not, keep it in milk and get help within the hour.
There are more tips in our guide on how to manage dental pain until your emergency appointment.
A member of the Whitefield Dental clinical team.
Common causes of weekend toothache
Most urgent problems build up quietly before they flare. Decay reaching the nerve, a dental abscess, a cracked tooth, a lost filling or wisdom tooth pain are among the most common reasons people call us after a difficult weekend. Many give early warning signs, such as sensitivity or tenderness when biting, which are worth mentioning at your next check-up.
Why a regular dentist in Manchester makes a difference
A practice that already knows your mouth can give faster, better-informed advice when something goes wrong. Routine dental exams, with X-rays and intra-oral photos, help us spot weak fillings, early decay and cracked teeth before they hurt. Our plan members also get an emergency appointment within 48 hours.
We're on Radcliffe New Road in Whitefield, around ten minutes' walk from the Metrolink, and we look after patients from across north Manchester.
Contact our dentist in Manchester
If you're in pain, call us as early as you can so the team can advise on the next step. If you're looking for a dentist in Manchester who can see you before a small problem turns into an emergency, a routine exam is the best place to start.
Whitefield Dental is at 118 Radcliffe New Road, Whitefield, Manchester M45 7WQ. Call us on 0161 524 9883 or email dentist@whitefielddentalpractice.co.uk. We're open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am to 6pm, Tuesday 9am to 8pm, Friday 8am to 3pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm by pre-booking.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see a dentist on a Saturday?
Yes. Whitefield Dental opens on Saturday mornings from 9am to 1pm by pre-booking. Call as early as you can to ask about availability.
What should I do if my practice is closed?
Contact NHS 111 by phone or online. They can assess your symptoms and direct you to urgent dental care if you need it.
When should I go to A&E with toothache?
Go to A&E or call 999 if swelling makes it hard to breathe, swallow or open your eyes, if bleeding won't stop, or after a serious injury to your face or mouth.
Can a lost filling wait until Monday?
Usually, yes, if there's no severe pain or swelling. Avoid chewing on that side and book an appointment as soon as the practice opens.
