Dentistry Information

Care Homes should seek to assist in providing dentistry though usual community routes by using local community dentistry either via NHS or private routes depending on resident’s choice.

Where residents are completely housebound and not able to attend a surgery there is a small commissioned service for Urgent domiciliary dentistry. This is only available for completely housebound people and is available to anyone in the community, it is not specifically for Care homes.

Should urgent dentistry be required for a care home resident this service is currently being provided by Community Dental services please see detail below:

Patients requiring urgent treatment can be referred directly by the home or via a clinician (e.g. GP or Dentist 111 services should also hold this information)

Community Dental Services in Suffolk

Dentistry services are directly commissioned by NHSE&I and not through local CCGs. To this end homes should refer any issues they are having in respect of getting emergency/urgent dental care services to england.dentaleast@nhs.net and copy in jessica.bendon@nhs.net

Routine dental services are being restored following closure due to Covid-19. However, these are based on clinical need as set out by national guidance that the sequencing and scheduling of patients for treatment as services resume, should take into account:

• The urgency of need.
• The un-met needs of vulnerable groups.
• Available capacity to undertake activity.

Special Care Dental Services are following the advice of the Chief Dental Officer which is to prioritise urgent cases and those with outstanding treatments. Therefore, very few dental practices have the capacity to see new patients or routine examinations at the moment. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and the difficulties Covid-19 presents for dental care, the day-to-day capacity of dental practices is significantly reduced.