NHS dentistry

The Dental Centre Group continues to provide NHS care for all categories of child an adult patients. We always aim to provide a high standard of care and service for all patients

Making Appointments
If you ask us for an appointment, we will try to offer you one as soon as possible at a convenient time within the hours we have set aside for NHS patients. The NHS asks us to provide a fixed, limited amount of NHS care each year and so we have to allocate our time and our NHS budget accordingly.

You can ask to see a particular dentist but it may not be possible to arrange this because the dentist may not have any NHS time available. We set aside specific appointments everyday for patients requiring urgent treatment. Urgent treatment means treatment that the dentist considers necessary to relieve severe pain or prevent your oral condition deteriorating before you can make a normal appointment. If you need dental advice or care when the practice is closed please telephone the practice for details of the PCT's out of hour’s arrangements.

NHS PATIENT CHARGES
View full NHS charges >
If you pay NHS charges, you pay one of only three fixed charges relating to the type of care and treatment that you need. If you have a check-up and simple scaling, for example, you will pay one Band 1 charge. If you need a filling also, you will pay one band 2 charge. If you need a crown as well, you will pay one Band 3 charge. The charge for urgent treatment is the same as band 1 charge. NHS dental care is still free for children under 18 years (or under 19 if in full time education) as welt as pregnant women, new mothers and people on certain benefits.

REMINDERS AND RECALLS
At the end of your course of treatment, your dentist will discuss with you when you will need to see a dentist again. NHS dentists will now follow guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NIHCE) on how often patients need to see their dentist, according to their oral health needs. It is no longer the norm for NHS patients to have two check-ups each year if you do not need them.

However, some patients will be advised more frequent check-ups. The Department of Health wants NHS resources to be allocated to those who need it most. You can, of course, visit your dentist more often privately if you want to talk to your dentist more regularly about your oral health needs, have a regular visit to the hygienist, and be reassured that all is well.

At the present time we do not send out reminders to patients who are due for a check-up. When you attend a check-up appointment with us we will advise you at that time when you are due to attend again.

PRIVATE CARE
NHS patients can opt to have part of their treatment privately. Private treatment gives you more time with your dentist as well as personal service, greater choice of materials and higher quality laboratory work for a better aesthetic result. There is also a greater range of treatment options available as cosmetic treatment is excluded from the NHS.

CANCELLATIONS
If you cannot keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can use the appointment for another patient on our waiting list. If you miss an appointment and give less than 24-hours notice, we may not be able to complete your treatment or offer you NHS care in the future.

AT YOUR SERVICE
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, about NHS dental care, please speak to a member of the practice team. We will be pleased to help.

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