NHS Dentistry Report Update
While we are aware of the situation, we only have access to information provided by NHS England or individual practices and are limited in the advice we can offer.
We would like to hear your experiences of accessing dental appointments, good or bad. You can contact our team who will continue to share feedback to both Healthwatch England and NHS England to ensure your voices are heard.
NHS England have produced a list of Frequently Asked Questions on NHS dentistry to help patients during this time:
Q. How do I find an NHS dentist for routine care?
A: Patients are not registered with a dentist in the same way as GP practices – patients can contact any NHS practice to access care. We are encouraging practices to operate waiting lists to manage those patients requesting routine NHS dental care. As independent contractors, dental practices are responsible for managing their appointment books and are best placed to advise on the capacity they have available to take on new patients. Practices providing NHS treatment are listed on www.nhs.uk. It is the practices responsibility to maintain accurate information on the website. NHS England do not hold information on practices who are currently accepting new patients and is therefore unable to arrange appointments, or access for patients.
If you develop a dental problem you are advised to contact any NHS dental practice, however please be aware that practices are still having to prioritise patients with the most urgent needs first, so it may take some time until practices are able to provide more routine services such as check-ups. We are therefore asking all patients for their understanding and co-operation during this time.
Q. I have joined a local NHS dentist waiting list, how long will I wait and how will I be contacted?
A: Individual dental practices will be able to provide information to you on how their waiting lists are managed and how individuals will be contacted including anticipated timeframes. Whilst we acknowledge that this is frustrating, we ask that wherever possible, individuals do not assign themselves or their family members onto waiting lists at multiple dental practices.
Q. I have contacted an NHS dental practices and been advised that they are unable to offer an NHS appointment, but I have been given the option of having the treatment privately and this will be quicker than waiting for an NHS appointment – why is this?
A: Many practices offer both NHS and private treatment. NHS England’s expectation is that all NHS funded capacity is used to deliver the maximum possible volume of safe care for patients and we are supporting providers with this approach. Mixed practices tend to have separate appointment books for both NHS and private treatment, with staff teams employed for these different arrangements. NHS provision is delivered across their contracted opening hours, however, demand for NHS treatment is such that they could have used up their available NHS appointments and the practice may, therefore, offer the private option to patients.
Before any treatment is started there will be a personal dental plan to sign which will explain the NHS treatment the dentist is going to do and how much it will cost. If any private treatment has been discussed this and the cost will also be listed separately. Please be aware that the NHS will provide all treatment that the NHS dentist feels is clinically necessary to keep teeth, gums, and mouth healthy. Here are the details on who is entitled to free NHS treatment and also what types of treatments are available on the NHS and the cost.
Q: I have developed an urgent dental issue – what should I do?
A: If you develop an urgent dental issue, telephone any NHS practice during normal working hours and explain the nature of the dental problem so that the urgency of the treatment need can be determined. It is important that when you contact the practice you fully explain the nature of your dental problem so that the urgency of your treatment need can be determined. If the practice is unable to offer an appointment because their appointment slots have already been taken up, they will advise you to ring another NHS dental practice or alternatively visit www.111.nhs or call 111. The NHS111 health advisor will undertake a clinical triage and where the dental need is deemed to be clinically urgent, an appointment will be made at the nearest in-hours urgent dental care hub, or alternatively depending on the time of the call, into the dental out of hours treatment services. If the issue is not deemed urgent, patients will be signposted to another NHS dental practice and/or given self-care advice until an appointment can be offered. You will be advised to make contact again if your situation changes/worsens.
Important points to note:
• If your teeth and gums are healthy – a check-up, or scale and polish may not be needed every 6 months.
• Stopping smoking and limiting alcohol intake along with reducing the amount of sugary drinks and food can all be beneficial in keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
• Every dental practice is working extremely hard to provide care to as many patients as possible, if a routine appointment is not yet available, please be understanding and respectful at all times.
• All dental practices are being encouraged to prioritise patients for treatment based on urgency and priority groups, such as those more at risk of dental disease or children.
• Appointments for some routine treatments, such as dental check-ups, may still be delayed.
For out of hours care:
• Toothache should initially be managed with over the counter pain relief until an appointment can be made with your general dental practice. A pharmacist can advise you what the best pain control to meet your needs is.
• Lost fillings, crowns or bridges, broken teeth or braces are not usually deemed to be clinically urgent and patients are advised to wait and contact a NHS dental practice when they open.
• Only ring NHS 111 out of hours when your dental needs cannot be met by self -care and cannot wait until your regular practice – if you have one - is open to contact them for advice.
We hope you find this information helpful and respectfully request that you bear with us whilst we implement our plans to replace the NHS dental access as quickly as possible.
