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.

We offer a range of services if you’re an adult or child, 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.

There are two ways to access our service.

You can refer yourself or a relative, or you can be referred to us by your dentist or GP.

Referral criteria

You must meet at least one of our six criteria to be referred, which includes:

1. if 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 with their dentist unless the child fulfils criteria 3. Exception: patients with asymptomatic decay in baby teeth will be rejected.
2. if you're a child with caries in permanent teeth who are uncooperative and unable to accept treatment.
3. if you have a learning, physical or severe medical disability which impacts on their dental treatment.
   4. if you have severe mental health problems or dementia which impacts on their dental treatment.
   5. if you have a severe dental fear (phobia) whose needs cannot be met by NHS sedation services. Only people who have been refused by the NHS clinics providing IV sedation or have a learning disability will be considered.
   6. if you're unable to leave their home and may require 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

Self-referral

You can refer yourself or a relative to us, using the referral form.

Send your completed form to our team by email. Our email address is: cds.hq@berkshire.nhs.uk 

Dentist and 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’re welcome to bring along a family member or support worker for support.

No dental treatment will begin at your first appointment, but 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, any medications you're taking, and your dietary habits
• examining your teeth, gums, and mouth to look for signs of problems like cavities, gum disease, and other mouth conditions
• offering an x-ray if necessary, to find any dental issues
• discussing the different treatment options for good oral hygiene

What to bring with you

• your medical history and consent form, which we will send to you by SMS 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. 

• Visit NHS website

Good oral hygiene

Good oral health and hygiene will help prevent problems with your teeth in future.

You can visit the Thames Valley Community Dental Services (TVCDS) website for guides on looking after your teeth and mouth.

They also have advice for carers and leaflets in other languages.

Oral Health Foundation

Independent charity (not for profit) dedicated to improving oral health and wellbeing around the world

• Visit Oral Health Foundation website

National Autistic Society

NAS have resources and guides to support people with autism if you're having difficulty with dental and health services.

• Visit National Autistic Society website