Dental Services
The service aims to improve access to dental care for those who find difficulty in accessing it through the general dental service; these aims being consistent with those stated in HSG(97)4, Factsheet 14: Implementing Local Commissioning for Primary Care Dentistry and the local Oral Health Strategy. The service is provided under the Health and Social Care Act 2003. This applies particularly to those with special needs and vulnerable groups as defined by our acceptance criteria and to those requiring emergency dental treatment that may not be under the care of a general dental practitioner.
The service fulfils both a treatment and a public health role and will undertake to:
- provide dental treatment for those adults and children with special needs including those with learning difficulties and children with behaviour and management problems
- provide specialised dental services e.g. treatment under general anaesthesia and sedation
- provide specialised dental services for internally referred medically compromised patients whose medical conditions necessitate dental care being undertaken in a hospital environment.
- provide emergency dental care to those who cannot access the general dental services
- provide dental care for prisoners in HMP Bure, HMP Norwich and HMP Wayland
- provide domiciliary dental care for housebound patients.
- provide orthodontic services for internally referred patients
- carry out a public health function to include dental screening in schools and centres whilst taking part in national epidemiology surveys
- carry out oral health promotion and education to a wide range of age and client groups
Who this Service is for
The service is mainly on referral.
The following can self-refer:
- Children under the age of 16 who are not under the care of a family dentist and who are in pain. A course of treatment may be offered if capacity is available.
- Adults who are not under the care of a family dentist and who present as an emergency will be seen for the items of care necessary to resolve pain.
Referrals for the following groups of patients:
- Adults and children with special needs, including learning difficulties where attendance and treatment at a family dentist has not been possible due to their special needs.
- Children with behaviour or management problems making them unsuitable for treatment within general dental practice.
- Adults with Learning Difficulties and children who require treatment under general anaesthesia and who meet the requirements laid down in the General Anaesthetic Protocol.
- Adults and children who are medically compromised and require restorative dental care in a hospital setting.
- Clients who are detained under the care of the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Healthcare Trust.
- Prisoners held at HMP Bure, HMP Norwich and HMP Wayland.
- Those who are housebound and require domiciliary care not available from general dental practice.
- Children who, having been referred following school screening, present with multiple untreated teeth and who cannot obtain care from a family dentist.
- Adults who are referred following screening and are unable to obtain care from a family dentist.
LocationRoutine dental treatment is provided from clinics across Norfolk situated in:
General Anaesthesia is provided at the Day Procedure Units at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Treatments for patients whose medical conditions necessitate dental care being undertaken in a hospital environment are provided at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Sedation is provided at Swaffham Hospital and Siskin, Thorpe and Bowthorpe Clinics. How to Find UsSources of ReferralReferrals are accepted from doctors, dentists and other health and social care workers, and self referrals in line with the acceptance criteria. Referral Contact NumberCentral/Siskin Dental Centre: 01603 776834 West 01553 668676 |
Hours of ServiceCore working hours are 8.30 am to 5.00 pm (Fridays 8.30 am to 4.30 pm) with extended opening hours in the Access Centres. |