Private Community Services (including pharmacies and opticians)
Dentist
Some links on this page have been colour coded to make it easier to find the information you need:
Emergency dental treatment
The NHS explains what to do in an emergency or out of hours, including how 111 can support you.
How can I access an NHS dentist in an emergency or out of hours? – NHS
As the NHS suggests
“Do not contact a GP, as they will not be able to offer urgent or emergency dental care.”
If necessary, a dentist is able to prescribe antibiotics and pain killers for dental problems.
SEEING A DENTIST IS BEST FOR DENTAL PROBLEMS
From the BMA (British Medical Association)
Patients presenting with dental problems
Local dental treatment
You can find a local dentist using the NHS search function
Find a dentist – NHS
From the NHS
- How to find an NHS dentist – NHS
- What happens when you visit an NHS dentist – NHS
- What dental services are available on the NHS? – NHS
What to do if you cannot find a local dentist
As the NHS suggest
“if you’ve been unable to find a dentist and you want to raise your concerns about this, contact your local integrated care board (ICB). Integrated care boards (ICBs) commission dental services in England and are required to meet the needs of their local population for both urgent and routine dental care.”
How to find an NHS dentist – NHS
From the Integrated Care Board Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West
Provide information on what to do if you can not find a local dentist and answers to some common questions Dentists | BOB ICB
Further information
Some other important questions about the service and treatment can be found below:
support for people with special needs
From the NHS
Dental treatment for people with special needs – NHS
ANTICOAGULANTS
A common question is:
If you are having dental treatment and you are on an anticoagulant (blood thinner) should you stop your medication before the procedure?
This is particularly dependent on your bleeding risk from the procedure which only your dentist can determine and advise you on using guidance which might include:
From NICE
Anticoagulation – oral Anticoagulation – oral | Topics A to Z | CKS | NICE
From Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme
- Published Guidance Published Guidance – SDCEP
- Management of Dental Patients Taking Anticoagulants or Antiplatelet Drugs Anticoagulants and Antiplatelets – SDCEP
Your GP will not know or fully understand what your bleeding risk is as they do not have the training in this area nor will they be part of the decision what procedure is required. Your dentist will have had pharmaceutical training on anticoagulants and with their guidelines (including those referred to above) you can be confident they will be making the right decisions.
Dental costs
From the NHS Business Services Authority
Free NHS dental treatment | NHSBSA
Questionnaire from the NHS Business Services Authority which can tell you if you are entitled to help with with costs
Check what help you could get to pay for NHS costs – NHSBSA
From the NHS
Common dental and oral conditions
Simple information
From Buckinghamshire Council
Dental Health: Public Health Bucks provide some very basic but good advice to follow to maintain dental health Dental health (healthandwellbeingbucks.org)
GENERAL INFORMATION
From the Oral Health Foundation
Detailed information from a national charity about common dental conditions
- Advice and support for your oral health | Oral Health Foundation
- A-Z oral health information | Oral Health Foundation
From the NHS
From Patient info
Oral and Dental Care | Patient
From NICE
Oral health | Specialities | CKS | NICE
From the College of General Dentistry
NEW – Standards & guidance – College of General Dentistry
From the Faculty of Dental Surgery (Royal College of Surgeons)
Publications & Guidelines — Royal College of Surgeons
Complaints
From the NHS
pHARMACIST
Oral thrush and mouth ulcers can often be treated by your local pharmacist. The articles below explain when you might need to see a dentist or GP.
You can find your local pharmacist using the NHS search function
Find a pharmacy – NHS
Oral thrush
From the NHS
A local pharmacist can treat oral thrush for any adult or child over 4 months
Oral thrush (mouth thrush) – NHS
Mouth Ulcers
If mouth ulcers are present less than 3 weeks they can be treated by your local pharmacist.
From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Mouth ulcers
COMMON DENTAL PROBLEMS
From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Teething
- Teething – NHS
- Teething | Signs, Symptoms & Treatment | When Babies Start Teething | Patient
- Teething | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE
Bad breath (halitosis)
Toothache
Gum disease
Chipped, broken or cracked tooth
- Chipped, broken or cracked tooth – NHS
- Knocked-out tooth – NHS
- Dental Injuries. Lost teeth and dental injuries information. | Patient
From the NHS and Patient info
Tooth decay
From the NHS and NICE
Dental abscess
From the NHS
Dentures (false teeth) – NHS
Teeth grinding
Your dentist can help you with teeth grinding.
From the NHS
Teeth grinding (bruxism) – NHS
If teeth grinding is caused by stress or anxiety there is support for mental wellbeing and anxiety, see under
DENTIST
Your dentist can review:
From the NHS and NICE
Mouth ulcers
Temporomandibular disorder
- Temporomandibular disorder – NHS
- Temporomandibular Jaw Disorders. Jaw Joint disorders | Patient
- Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE
From the NHS
Sore or white tongue – NHS
From NICE
Oral health Oral health | Specialities | CKS | NICE
Videos and podcasts
On the videos and podcasts page there are links to some relevant videos and podcasts covering the topic of dental conditions.
- Videos And Podcasts – see section “health conditions.”
