Service : Community Dental Service

We provide specialist dental care if you can’t receive care from a general dental practitioner, but don’t necessarily need to visit a hospital.

Our service is for adults and children.

We offer a range of services, such as:

• special care if you have for example, a learning disability, a physical disability, or if you’re medically compromised
• paediatric care, for anxious or pre-cooperative young children
• sedation, both inhalation and intravenous, for some types of treatment
• care at home (domiciliary) visits
• dental care for bariatric patients
• assisted dental care if you need wheelchair tippers or hoists

You can see the different criteria for each treatment in our referral guide.

You may be discharged back to your dentist when your treatment is finished.

Referral criteria

You must meet at least one of our six criteria to be referred. 

1. You're a child who has had an episode of pain and/or infection from a baby tooth/teeth and are uncooperative and unable to accept treatment from your dentist. Exception: Patients with decay in baby teeth that is asymptomatic (it is not causing pain or an infection) will be rejected.
2. You're a child with caries (tooth decay) in permanent teeth and you are uncooperative and unable to accept treatment from your dentist.
3. You have a learning, physical, or severe medical disability which impacts on dental treatment.
4. You have severe mental health problems or dementia which impacts on your dental treatment.
5. You have a severe dental fear (phobia) and your needs cannot be met by NHS sedation services. Only people who have been refused by the NHS clinics providing IV sedation, or who have a learning disability, will be considered.
6. You're unable to leave your home and may require home (domiciliary) treatment.

We check to make sure each referral is suitable for our service.

If your referral is accepted, we will add you to a waiting list for a clinic within Berkshire.

We’ll send you a letter in the post asking you to contact us and book your appointment.

If we do not hear back from you, you may be discharged and will require a new referral

How to refer

There are two ways to access our service:

1. Self-referral or referral by a relative
2. Referral by your dentist or GP

Self-referral

If you are registered with a dentist, the referral should come directly from your dental practice. Self-referrals may be declined, and you may be asked to get a referral from your dentist before the process can continue.

You can refer yourself or a relative to us using the referral form which can be downloaded below.

Send your completed form to our team by email.

Our email address is cds.hq@berkshire.nhs.uk 

Dentist or GP referral

Referrals from dentists should be made through the Dental Electronic Referral Service (DERS).

Referrals from GPs and other healthcare professional should be made using the referral form.

Your first appointment will be a chance for us to talk to you about any dental or oral health problems you have.

You can to bring along a family member or support worker for support.

No dental treatment will begin at your first appointment. We will use the time to find out about the difficulties you’re having.

We’ll do this by:

• asking about your general medical history and health (for example, medications you're taking and dietary habits)
• examining your teeth, gums, and mouth to look for signs of problems
• offering an x-ray to find any dental issues, if needed
• discussing the different treatment options for good oral hygiene

What to bring with you

Please bring:

• your medical history
• your completed consent form (we will send to you by text message or as a letter in the post)
• a list of any medication you may be taking
• proof of any dental cost exemption forms (such as benefit status), if you’re entitled to free dental care

Pricing

Most adults need to pay for NHS dental appointments and dental treatment. You can learn more about the cost and if you need to pay for your treatment by visiting the NHS website.

• Find out how much NHS dental treatment costs

Oral Health Foundation

A charity dedicated to improving oral health and wellbeing around the world.

• Visit the Oral Health Foundation website

National Autistic Society

Find resources and guides if you're autistic and have difficulty with dental and health services.

• Visit the National Autistic Society website