When a tooth breaks or an abscess flares, the only question that matters is who can see you quickly. Lotus Dental and Aesthetics Clinic is a private practice at 943 Finchley Road, and we keep time back in the diary for patients in pain. We aim to see emergencies the same day, and if a day is genuinely full we will say so rather than string you along.

Getting to us from St John’s Wood

The journey is easier than the distance suggests, because it is one road. The A41 starts life as Wellington Road, by Lord’s, and becomes Finchley Road as it runs north through Swiss Cottage and Golders Green. We are at the far end of it, just past Golders Green at the Temple Fortune end. Off peak it is a fifteen to twenty minute drive with no turnings to think about.

On public transport, the Jubilee line takes you from St John’s Wood to Finchley Road in two stops, and buses run north along Finchley Road from there.

Our address is 943 Finchley Road, London NW11 7PE.

We have our own driveway with private parking for eight cars. Since most patients coming from St John’s Wood drive up, that is worth knowing before you set off.

We also see a number of patients who have moved to St John’s Wood recently and have not yet found a dentist in London. An emergency is an awkward introduction to a new practice, but it is a common one, and you are welcome whether or not you intend to stay with us afterwards.

What counts as a dental emergency

Call the same day for toothache that throbs or disturbs your sleep, a broken, chipped or knocked-out tooth, a lost filling, crown or veneer, swelling of the gum, face or jaw, a dental abscess, bleeding that will not settle, or a brace or denture rubbing the mouth raw.

Some things belong in a hospital rather than a dental chair. Swelling spreading towards the eye or under the jaw, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or bleeding you cannot control all mean 999 or A&E. St Mary’s in Paddington and the Royal Free in Hampstead are the nearest departments. Outside our hours, NHS 111 can direct you to urgent dental care.

What happens at your appointment

Relief comes first. We examine the tooth, take the x-rays needed to see below the surface, and explain what has happened in plain terms. CBCT and intraoral scanning are on site, so most problems can be diagnosed and treated in the same visit rather than referred elsewhere.

You will be told your options and what each costs before any treatment starts. If the work needs more than one visit, we settle the pain now and plan the rest around your diary.

What an emergency appointment costs

An emergency appointment is £95. That covers the appointment time, the x-rays needed to diagnose the problem, and basic immediate treatment such as a temporary filling or a prescription. Anything definitive is charged on top, for example a permanent filling, root canal treatment or an extraction, and you will have the cost before it starts. We are a private practice and do not hold an NHS contract.

When we are open

Monday to Thursday, 9am to 6pm. Friday, 9am to 4pm. Saturday, 10am to 3pm. Closed Sunday.

Call 020 8201 8080. You can book online at any time, though the phone is faster when you are in pain.

Questions we are asked by patients from St John’s Wood

Is it worth coming that far when I am in pain? It is one straight road, usually under twenty minutes, and there is a parking space waiting for you at the other end. Whether that beats waiting for something local depends on what you have been offered, and you will get a straight answer from us on the phone about when we can see you.

Do I need to register first? No. We see emergency patients who have never been here before.

I have just moved to London. Will my records be a problem? No. We will treat what is in front of us and can request your previous records later if you decide to stay.

Do you see children? Yes. Mention the age when you call so we can book the right length of appointment.

Call us

If you need to be seen today, call 020 8201 8080. Outside opening hours, leave a message and we will call you back.