Community Dental Service

The Community Dental Service looks after those who, because of their special care needs, are unable to attend a family dentist, this includes:

• People with learning disabilities
• People with physical disabilities
• Elderly care home residents who are unable to attend a general dental practice
• People who have severe mental illness
• People with significant anxiety, phobias or behavioral difficulties
• People who are housebound
• People with a significant medical condition

The Community Dental Service also provides specialist care for:

• Special Care Adults requiring dental care under general anaesthetic
• General anaesthetic extraction service for children referred from dental practices

The Community Dental Service places a strong emphasis on the prevention of dental disease and works with colleagues throughout healthcare to improve the oral health of the population.

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• Out of Hours Times & Information

  Please contact the clinic where an answer phone will give you further information. A dental emergency included the following conditions:

  • Dental swelling (spreading infection)
  • Trauma to teeth arising from an external force
  • Uncontrolled bleeding following extraction
  • Severe dental pain not controlled by over the counter medications
  • Please note – as there is high demand for out-of-hours appointments patients may have to travel outside their area for treatment slots

  Patients should not attend any site without an arranged appointment

• Referrals

  The Community Dental Service accepts referrals from General Dental Practices, General Medical Practitioners and other Health professionals. We do not accept self-referrals.

• Patients Experiencing Pain

  If you are registered with a dentist

  If you experience an emergency or urgent dental condition on a weekday, you should contact your own dentist in the first instance, preferably in the morning.

  At weekends and bank holidays, you should contact your own dental practice, which will outline what out-of-hours arrangements they have in place and how to access an appointment at an Emergency Dental Clinic, if appropriate.

• Patients having difficulties accessing a Health Service Dentist

  Health Service dentistry remains significantly impacted by the pandemic. This has reduced access to care for all patients, with routine treatment delayed in order to facilitate the provision of urgent treatment and to work through the backlog of incomplete treatment plans.

  We acknowledge that this is a difficult time for all dental patients trying to access a health service dentist.

  Under the current Health Service dental contract, dental practitioners have the right to register or not to register a patient as a Health Service patient. Their Health Service contract only requires dentists to provide care to their registered patients. Likewise, the General Dental Services (GDS) Regulations do not place an obligation on dental practitioners to provide any form of care to non-registered patients.

  Finding A Dentist

  If any patient is experiencing difficulty accessing a health service dentist, there is a HSC Service Finder link below that should help.  It can be used to search for dental practices in your area, sorted by those closest to your address and then extending further afield.  A contact number for each dental practice is available and will hopefully help patients find a practice to register with.

  HSC Service Finder

  Alternatively, patients may check dental practices at the following link

   Dental Surgery List

  Patients might have to check with a high number of dental practices and/or be prepared to travel outside of your local area in order to find a practice that is currently registering health service patients.

• Pilot for Unregistered Patients with an Urgent Dental condition

  A pilot scheme is being run by the Department of Health’s Strategic and Performance Planning Group (SPPG) to improve access to care for un-registered patients and asylum seekers who are experiencing an emergency or urgent dental issue during weekdays.  If an unregistered patient has an urgent dental condition and cannot access dental care having tried dental practices in their locality, then they should contact their local SPPG office at the number below:

  • Northern Office: 028 9536 2812
  • Belfast / South Eastern Office:  028 9536 3926
  • Western Office: 028 9536 1010
  • Southern Office: 028 9536 2104
• Emergency Dental Clinics (EDCs)

  Northern/Southern/Belfast/South-Eastern LCG areas only. (Western Area has a local rota operating in each town; patients should phone local practices for information about the rota at weekends/public holidays).

  Patients can only contact EDCs on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

  Tel: 028 2566 3510

  Telephone lines are open from 8am to 12 noon on these days

  Telephone calls will be directed to a dentist for triage and if deemed clinically necessary, advice or treatment at an EDC will be provided for the following dental conditions:

  • Dental swelling (spreading infection)
  • Trauma to teeth arising from an external force
  • Uncontrolled bleeding following extraction
  • Severe dental pain not controlled by over the counter medications
  • Please note – as there is high demand for out-of-hours appointments patients may have to travel outside their area for treatment slots
  • Patients should not attend any site without an arranged appointment

  Fees: Normal General Dental service charges will be payable.

  See: Out of Hours Emergency Dental Treatment – DOH/HSCNI Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) – formerly HSCB

  Patients should attend their local Emergency Department in the event of a severe dental swelling affecting their airway.

• Information that is helpful prior to attending your dental appointment
  1. Anyone living in the Northern Ireland can register with a GP (general medical practitioner) practice to receive NHS services. Once you’ve registered with a GP, you’ll receive a Health Care Number (HCN). You’ll need this number to register with the dental practice. If you wish to obtain a medical card and HCN without registering with a GP, you need to fill in a different application form. This form is called HSCR-2.
  2. A full medical history including all medications, tablets, pills and potions will be recorded prior to any dental treatment
  3. If an interpreter is required this can be arranged prior to attending the appointment.
• Accessibility Guides

  Downe Hospital

  Lagan Valley Hospital