Clinical Care
The Public Dental Service provides routine and urgent care to a range of priority group patients across Tayside. Care provided is as prescribed within the Statement of Dental Remuneration and subject to NHS patient fees. Emergency care is provided for patients who do not have a registered dentist. Appointments are available on the same day. Out of hours and at weekends calls are triaged by NHS 24.
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 Public Dental Service provide a referral service for General Dental Practitioners and other Health Care Professionals. 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.
Oral Health Promotion
The PDS’ Oral Health Improvement Team (OHIT) promote oral health through participation in National Programmes. These include -
•Childsmile programme (supported and monitored toothbrushing in schools and nurseries and application of Fluoride varnish twice a year to the most deprived schools in Tayside)
•Caring for Smiles (Caring for Smiles is Scotland’s national oral health promotion, training and support programme, which aims to improve the oral health of older people, particularly those living in care homes). The OHIT offer basic oral care training in Care Homes or SCQF accredited Oral Care Training - Foundation and Intermediate Levels.
•Mouth Matters (Mouth Matters is an evidence-informed oral health promotion resource for Prisons. It has been compiled under expert guidance and is designed to enable health professionals, prison staff and support workers to meet the specific oral health needs of offender populations in Scotland. Its overall purpose is to raise awareness of the key factors that affect oral health and provide core motivational interviewing skills that can be used to support an oral health brief intervention tailored to offenders.)
•Smile4Life (Smile4life enables health and social care staff and support workers to provide evidence-based tailored oral health messages to meet the specific and exceptional needs of homeless (roofless and houseless) people in Scotland.)
•Open Wide (Open Wide is an oral health improvement programme for adults aged 16-64 who require support with daily oral care as a result of a physical, cognitive or medical condition.)
Public Dental Service
Specialty Description
Locality and Contact Information
Angus
Springfield Medical Centre, 30 Ponderlaw Street, Arbroath DD11 1ES
Email: Tay.springfielddentaldept@nhs.scot
Tel: 01241 432481
Dundee
Kings Cross HCCC, Hospital Street, Dundee, DD3 8EA
Email: Tay.pdskingscross@nhs.scot
Tel: 01382 596990
Perth
Broxden Dental Centre, Tweed Place, Perth, PH1 1TJ
Email: Tay.broxdencommunitydental@nhs.scot
Tel: 01738 450550
Springfield Medical Centre, 30 Ponderlaw Street, Arbroath DD11 1ES
Email: Tay.springfielddentaldept@nhs.scot
Tel: 01241 432481
Dundee
Kings Cross HCCC, Hospital Street, Dundee, DD3 8EA
Email: Tay.pdskingscross@nhs.scot
Tel: 01382 596990
Perth
Broxden Dental Centre, Tweed Place, Perth, PH1 1TJ
Email: Tay.broxdencommunitydental@nhs.scot
Tel: 01738 450550
Who to refer
Broadly speaking, patients are referred to the Public Dental Service because they have special care needs, are anxious or need treatment not available at the family practice. Referral may be for an item or course of treatment, continuing or shared care.
Please send all referrals to PDS via SCI gateway and attach all relevant radiographs and clinical photographs. Please give as much information as possible.
Geographical Area
We accept referrals from residents of Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and North Fife.
Referrals are NOT accepted for patients who live outside this area, but whose GDP is located within Tayside.
In all cases, the initial appointment will be for assessment only. Treatment plans or modalities should not be agreed in advance as these may lead to unrealistic expectations on the patient’s part.
Please send all referrals to PDS via SCI gateway and attach all relevant radiographs and clinical photographs. Please give as much information as possible.
Geographical Area
We accept referrals from residents of Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross and North Fife.
Referrals are NOT accepted for patients who live outside this area, but whose GDP is located within Tayside.
In all cases, the initial appointment will be for assessment only. Treatment plans or modalities should not be agreed in advance as these may lead to unrealistic expectations on the patient’s part.
Who not to refer
Patients that do not fall within the specialist referral criteria or patients not suitable for student clinic care.
How to refer
Referrals are via SCI Gateway