Dentistry is concerned with the prevention and treatment of oral disease. It involves maintaining the health of the teeth, gums and the soft tissues of the oral cavity/oral mucosa.
The provision of NHS dental care is complex and differs depending on whether a patient is registered with an NHS general dental practitioner.
The majority of routine dental care is undertaken within the General Dental Services (i.e. in a dental practice). To access such care a patient must be registered with a general dental practitioner. Patients who require routine dental care should be directed to register with a general dental practitioner. Patients who require specialist input can be referred into secondary care by their general dental practitioner or their general medical practitioner.
The Public Dental Service (PDS) provides dental care and a referral service for those patients who have additional care needs including disability and individuals in residential or institutionalised care and those experiencing homelessness.
The list of dental practices that are currently accepting new NHS dental patients may be found here:
https://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/OurServicesA-Z/Dental/index.htm
Dental Service
Dentistry
Emergency and Urgent Dental Care
Toothache is a common complaint, which can be severe and distressing for the patient.
In addition there are other oral conditions which should be treated as an emergency. These include:
If the patient present with any of these conditions they should have contact with a dental clinician within 60 minutes and subsequent treatment within a timescale that is appropriate to the severity of the condition.
Registered patients
Patients who are registered with a dentist should contact their own dentist for urgent dental care.
At weekends and the Christmas and New Year Public Holidays dental practices participate in the NHS Tayside Out of Hours service through NHS 24.
Unregistered patients
Please note there is no walk-in service available. Patients who require urgent dental care should call the numbers above to arrange an emergency appointment in hours.
Out of hours – patients should call 111
In addition there are other oral conditions which should be treated as an emergency. These include:
- Trauma including facial/oral laceration and/or dentoalveolar injuries (e.g. avulsion of a permanent tooth)
- Oro-facial swelling that is significant and worsening
- Post-extraction bleeding that the patient is not able to control with local measures
- Dental infection that has resulted in acute systemic illness or raised temperature
- Severe trismus
- Oro-dental conditions that are likely to exacerbate systemic medical conditions
If the patient present with any of these conditions they should have contact with a dental clinician within 60 minutes and subsequent treatment within a timescale that is appropriate to the severity of the condition.
Registered patients
Patients who are registered with a dentist should contact their own dentist for urgent dental care.
At weekends and the Christmas and New Year Public Holidays dental practices participate in the NHS Tayside Out of Hours service through NHS 24.
Unregistered patients
- Unregistered patients who require emergency dental care from Monday to Friday during office hours (0830-1630) should call the following:
- Dundee – Kings Cross Dental centre: 01382 596990
- Dundee - Dundee Dental Hospital: 01382 401455
- Angus -Springfield Medical Centre Arbroath: 01241 432481
- Perth - Broxden Dental Centre: 01738 450550
Please note there is no walk-in service available. Patients who require urgent dental care should call the numbers above to arrange an emergency appointment in hours.
Out of hours – patients should call 111
Referring Patients
If a patient requires treatment that is not available in general dental practice they may need to be referred. Referrals can be made to:
1. Dundee Dental Hospital & Research School
Dundee Dental Hospital & Research School delivers consultant-led secondary care, whilst simultaneously training undergraduate and post-graduate students and trainees. It provides specialist level care for the local population in all the GDC dental specialties – Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Paediatric Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, Orthodontics, Special Care Dentistry and Dental and maxillofacial radiology.
OR
2. Public Dental Service
The Public Dental Service provides routine and urgent care to a range of priority group patients across Tayside. Priority groups include those with physical, cognitive or medical special needs and those who are socially disadvantaged (such as those experiencing homelessness or problems associated with substance misuse).
The service provides dental care for child and adult patients who require sedation or general anaesthetic or require specialist input. The service also accepts referrals for bariatric patients who cannot be treated in their own practice and patients with access problems. The service has wheelchair platforms in all areas to enable patients to remain in their own wheelchair during their dental care. The Scottish Ambulance Transport Service transport eligible patients to Public Dental Service Clinics.
1. Dundee Dental Hospital & Research School
Dundee Dental Hospital & Research School delivers consultant-led secondary care, whilst simultaneously training undergraduate and post-graduate students and trainees. It provides specialist level care for the local population in all the GDC dental specialties – Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Paediatric Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, Orthodontics, Special Care Dentistry and Dental and maxillofacial radiology.
OR
2. Public Dental Service
The Public Dental Service provides routine and urgent care to a range of priority group patients across Tayside. Priority groups include those with physical, cognitive or medical special needs and those who are socially disadvantaged (such as those experiencing homelessness or problems associated with substance misuse).
The service provides dental care for child and adult patients who require sedation or general anaesthetic or require specialist input. The service also accepts referrals for bariatric patients who cannot be treated in their own practice and patients with access problems. The service has wheelchair platforms in all areas to enable patients to remain in their own wheelchair during their dental care. The Scottish Ambulance Transport Service transport eligible patients to Public Dental Service Clinics.