The Paediatric Dentistry service at Dundee Dental Hospital and School is a consultant-led referral service for children and young people under 16-years-old.
The role of the Paediatric Dentistry service is primarily to provide a diagnostic, treatment planning and advice service for referring practitioners. Examples of children who may require specialist-level knowledge or treatment include; children who have significant medical issues e.g. heart surgery, bleeding problems and cancer, children who have abnormalities of tooth position, shape or number, children with tooth and facial injuries, children with genetic tooth defects, children with soft tissue disease or gum disease and children with dental anxiety who can’t manage treatment in general dental practice.
Following an initial assessment appointment at Dundee Dental Hospital and School, a patient’s treatment may be completed by their own dentist or within the Hospital Dental Service. In some cases an onward referral is made to the Public Dental Service.
Often, a patient’s treatment may have some aspects completed at the Dental Hospital and School while other parts of the treatment can be completed in primary care in a shared care arrangement.
For patients who are accepted for treatment, this is likely to be for a single course of treatment or specific item of treatment and it is expected that the referring practitioner will continue to see the patient for routine examinations and will remain responsible for the patient’s emergency and other routine preventive and restorative care.
Dundee Dental Hospital and School is a teaching hospital. The Paediatric Dentistry department is able to accept a limited number of patients suitable for treatment by undergraduate and postgraduate students or dentists in training. We are not able to routinely provide primary care treatment. Some cases are accepted for undergraduate training, usually children who are not exceptionally anxious but require treatment of decay in the primary or mixed dentition. Otherwise, patients not requiring specialist care are returned to the referring practitioner for completion of treatment.
Paediatric Dentistry
Specialty Description
Our Team
The Paediatric Dentistry Department at Dundee Dental Hospital and School is consultant-led. There are many other experienced dentists that work within the department and there are qualified dentists undergoing further training.
Who to refer
Please see Dundee Dental Hospital Specialist Services Service: Paediatric Dentistry – Who to Refer for accepted and rejected referral criteria
How to refer
SCI Gateway should be used for making referrals and be aware that your patient may be offered a virtual appointment as appropriate
Please see Dundee Dental Hospital Specialist Services Service: Paediatric Dentistry - Making a Referral for more information on making a referral
Please see Dundee Dental Hospital Specialist Services Service: Paediatric Dentistry - Making a Referral for more information on making a referral
Patient Journey
Referral Process:
On receiving a complete referral, a senior member of clinical staff triages this according to the nature of the case described in the referral. Referrals not meeting the referral criteria or with insufficient information to allow triaging will be returned and the reason explained. Referrals suitable for assessment by a specialist will be allocated a new patient appointment within 12 weeks when possible. Acceptance for consultation does not mean that a patient will be accepted for some or all of their treatment.
For those cases not appropriate for the Specialist Led Service, assessment will be offered on a staff clinic and depending on the teaching needs at that time, may be offered treatment on a student clinic.
The Initial consultation/ assessment appointment
Patients attending for a new patient assessment should not expect treatment at that appointment. The first appointment allows relevant information to be gathered, a dental examination and possible investigations to be carried out. If further appointments are required, the member of staff will advise.
Failure to attend
We will contact you if a patient fails to attend for an appointment on either a staff or student clinic. Please encourage patients to attend before referring on to secondary care.
On receiving a complete referral, a senior member of clinical staff triages this according to the nature of the case described in the referral. Referrals not meeting the referral criteria or with insufficient information to allow triaging will be returned and the reason explained. Referrals suitable for assessment by a specialist will be allocated a new patient appointment within 12 weeks when possible. Acceptance for consultation does not mean that a patient will be accepted for some or all of their treatment.
For those cases not appropriate for the Specialist Led Service, assessment will be offered on a staff clinic and depending on the teaching needs at that time, may be offered treatment on a student clinic.
The Initial consultation/ assessment appointment
Patients attending for a new patient assessment should not expect treatment at that appointment. The first appointment allows relevant information to be gathered, a dental examination and possible investigations to be carried out. If further appointments are required, the member of staff will advise.
Failure to attend
We will contact you if a patient fails to attend for an appointment on either a staff or student clinic. Please encourage patients to attend before referring on to secondary care.
Useful resources and information
If you would like help or advice on a clinical matter relating to one of your patients or you would like advice on the referral of a patient please contact us.
Main reception: 01382 425791
Enquiries about referrals: 01382 740918
To send or request copies of radiographs email with the patient’s name, address and date of birth within the email: TAY.radiologyddh@nhs.scot
To send photographs related to the referral (maximum of 4 JPEGs) email with the patient’s name, address and date of birth within the email: tay.taysideclinicalphotography@nhs.scot
Main reception: 01382 425791
Enquiries about referrals: 01382 740918
To send or request copies of radiographs email with the patient’s name, address and date of birth within the email: TAY.radiologyddh@nhs.scot
To send photographs related to the referral (maximum of 4 JPEGs) email with the patient’s name, address and date of birth within the email: tay.taysideclinicalphotography@nhs.scot