Oral health information and advice

What we offer

What we offer

  • Specialist services – our county clinics focus on treating people who need behaviour management while they have dental treatment. We offer our service alongside general dental and hospital settings. We offer treatments like fillings, tooth extraction and gum treatments.
     
  • Mobile services – we visit special needs students in schools
     
  • Oral health promotion – our team work with other organisations and aim to give communities better oral health.

Salaried Primary Care Dental Services

Salaried Primary Care Dental Services

If you normally pay for NHS Dental treatment, there will be three standard charges. The amount you pay will depend on the treatment you need to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Band 1:

£26.80 This covers an examination, diagnosis (including X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if clinically needed, and preventative care such as the application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant if appropriate.

Band 2 

£73.50 This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or removal of teeth but not more complex items covered by Band 3.

Band 3 

£319.10 This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other laboratory work. For information about help with dental charges, including how to claim a refund, see our section on help with health costs.

Click here to view the Dental Salaried Primary Care Dental Services - Information Leaflet [pdf] 267KB

Dental Domiciliary Care

Dental Domiciliary Care

Domiciliary dental care is provided for patients who are unable to access one of our community clinics. We come to you in your own home / care setting to provide check-ups or treatment. This is a referral only service which allows patients who are house-bound to access dental care in their own care settings or home.

Please note patients must meet domiciliary eligibility criteria i.e. unable to attend a clinic with or without support. This will be assessed prior to an appointment being offered.

Who is eligible?

There are many conditions and reasons why someone might not able to leave their home. It’s best to talk to us about your situation so we can determine if you do meet the criteria. Before a domiciliary visit patients will have a remote consultation appointment with a member of the dental team to confirm if a home visit is appropriate. If we do then assess you on a home visit we may still think it is best to arrange for you to be seen in one of our clinics for further assessment or treatment.  

Who is not eligible?

• Patients who can leave their house/care setting to access appointments in a taxi / ambulance / car.

• Patients who leave their house to access services including hairdresser / GP / shopping.

• Patients who can attend clinic via non-emergency patient transport

Limitations of domiciliary care

Treating patients in their home/care setting can be very challenging for the dental team. They do not have access to all their normal equipment or a dental chair. Only minimal treatment is possible at home such as a dental check up, smoothing teeth, fluoride application, temporary fillings, denture construction and very occasionally tooth extraction.

We may suggest coming into the clinic for a certain treatment as this may be considered the safest setting. We cannot take X rays on a domiciliary visit and patients may need to attend a clinic to have these taken.

Sometimes, if a patient is bedbound, they may need to be referred into a hospital setting for a stretcher transfer to receive the treatment required. However, the first assessment can take place at home.

What to expect?

A dental nurse will accompany the dentist, there may be additional clinicians attending as we do train staff in domiciliary care. We may bring a trolley with all our equipment as well as emergency medicines and oxygen. The patient who is having an assessment or treatment should have a private place to do this, to maintain dignity and privacy.

There also needs to be a clean table area to act as a base for the examination kit and access to running water. The dentist and dental nurse attending will be wearing blue surgical scrubs and have NHS ID badges. They will need a clean space to put on their PPE which usually consists of gloves, surgical mask and visor.

They will also need to shine a torch to get a good view inside the mouth. The dentist will let the patient, and if appropriate carers or family present know what they see and will make a treatment plan. They will also need an updated Medical History with current list of medication.

In most cases the patient will be involved in making the treatment plan, but it may need to be made in the patient’s best interest if they lack capacity. In these cases a formal best interest meeting may need to take place with family, friends or carers who are close to the patient. The dental team will organise this.

Pets

Please ensure any pets are kept in a different room for the visit.

How much does it cost?

Standard NHS dental charges apply. Some patients will be exempt from paying (please see following page for details).

Costs correct April 2023

 

Band 1 dental treatment: £25.80

This charge covers:

• Adjusting false teeth (dentures)

• Applying fluoride varnish to the surfaces of your teeth

• Dental check up

• Smoothing of fillings

• A scale and polish (if clinically necessary)

 

Band 2 dental treatment: £70.70

This charge covers:

• An addition to your dentures – such as adding a clasp or a tooth

• Simple Fillings

• Relining dentures

• Removing teeth (extraction)

 

Band 3 dental treatment: £306.80

This charge covers:

• New dentures.

 

You do not have to pay for NHS dental services if you are:

• under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education

• pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months.

 

Low-income benefits

You are entitled to free NHS dental treatment if you or your spouse (including civil partner) receive:
• Income Support

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

• Universal Credit (in certain circumstances)

 

Certificates to help with health costs

You can receive free NHS dental treatment if you are entitled to or named on:

• A valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate.

• A valid HC2 certificate – which is available for people on a low income.

• A valid maternity exemption certificate

• People named on an NHS certificate for partial help with health costs (HC3) may also get help

You will be asked to show your dentist written proof that you do not have to pay for all or part of your NHS treatment. You will also be asked to sign a form to confirm that you do not have to pay. If these forms are not correct and signed, you may receive a fine.

Specialist Dental Services - St James Clinic

Our team of specialists at St James Clinic helps patients access dental care with minimal specialist intervention, so that they can have fillings, extractions and gum treatments. St James Clinic offers special care services only (no minor oral surgery).