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Special Care Dental Service
Solent NHS Trust Special Care Dental Service provide specialised dental care for those who are unable to access dental care in the General Dental Service because of their special needs. Patients must be registered with a General Medical Practitioner in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton or the Isle of Wight. In most circumstances a dentist or other health professional will make a referral into the service when it is clear that care cannot be provided by a general dentist. Please see the referral form and criteria. Normal NHS Dental charges apply. Referrals need to include information about exemption status, the dental and special needs and a summary medical history.
We have Clinics located throughout Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. Patients are usually seen at the nearest clinic to their home dependent on the special needs and equipment needed. For further information about referring into the service please contact 0300 300 2014
For those who are looking for a general dentist or to access emergency dental care because they do not have their own dentist need to telephone 111.
Want to be a part of the Special Care Dental Service? Find out more here.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Referral criteria
- Normal NHS dental charges apply. If you are not exempt from charges you will be asked for payment at each visit. Posters in waiting areas have information on NHS costs.
- Services are provided for those who are unable to access dental care in the General Dental Services because of their special needs. In most circumstances a dentist or other health professional will make a referral into the service when it is clear that care cannot be provided by a general dentist.
- On completion of treatment you will be discharged from the service unless the dentist informs you otherwise. You will be given help and advice in arranging your future dental care with an NHS family dentist where appropriate.
- For those who are looking for a general dentist or to access emergency dental care because they do not have their own dentist, the Hampshire Dental Helpline should be contacted. This service provides advice on dentists accepting patients for NHS care and also arranges urgent appointments for people in pain who do not have a dentist. Tel 111.
- Written referrals for people with special needs are welcome from doctors, dentists, health visitors, school nurses, other health care workers, social services and voluntary agencies, hospitals. Service referral forms can be downloaded from this website. Referrals will need to include information about exemption status, the dental and special needs and a summary medical history. Where it is known we require the NHS number to be provided.
- If you have any queries do contact the Dental Administration Office. Tel 0300 300 2014
Oral health resources for health and care professionals
There is lots of guidance and information available to help promote good oral health, spot the warning signs, and provide key prevention messages to your patients. Take a look at some the resources below:
- Read the latest guidance and statistics about oral health promotion for children.
- Access the child oral health ‘e-Learning for Healthcare’
- Download the latest information on early years and school settings for managers.
- Find out about the saving smiles programme.
Additional resources and tools for professionals
Solent NHS Trust:
- Saving Smiles: supervised tooth brushing programme handbook for nurseries and pre-schools
- Saving Smiles workbook
Public Health England:
- Oral health collection
- Breastfeeding and dental health guidance
- Improving oral health for children and young people: for health visitors, school nurses and practice nurses
- Change4Life guide for dentists
- Change4Life school resources - Now live on the School Zone
KS1 and KS2 dental lesson plans are the first in a series of Change4Life school resources to help pupils and their families learn about healthier eating habits.
The Royal Society of Public Health:
For local information, contact one of our Oral Health Practitioners:
| Southampton | shirley.gibbs@solent.nhs.uk | 07775 003534 |
| Southampton | rita.slevin@solent.nhs.uk | 07876 257514 |
Oral health resources for parents and carers
There is lots of information and support available to help promote child and adolescent oral health. Take a look at some of these resources below:
- Change4Life campaigns have a range of information and resources to support families to make healthier choices.
- Change4Life Be Food Smart app alerts you about the hidden sugar, saturated fat and salt in everyday food and drink and highlights the harm this can do to your child’s health, including oral health.
- The Eatwell Guide shows the types of food which are needed to have a well-balanced diet.
- COHIPB partners HENRY have launched a useful ‘Growing up with healthy teeth’ video which was developed in collaboration with Leeds Dental school. The resource is approximately 20 minutes long with two sections; the first on 'dealing with diet', and the second on 'tooth brushing.'
Please see above for contact details for Solent Oral Health Practitioners
In addition, please ensure your team is aware of oral health services and interventions in your local area to improve child oral health, for example, HEYA (Southampton), currently includes supervised tooth brushing.
Full service description
The Solent NHS Trust Primary Care Dental Service provides dental care for people who have a special need e.g.
children who have:
- management / behavioural problems
- special dental problems
- special medical problems or disabilities
adults who:
- have some physical disabilities
- have learning disabilities
- have medical problems
- are frail elderly
- are housebound
Those who are referred for specialist services e.g.
General Anaesthetic Service - This service is provided for children in pain where extractions under a local anaesthetic would not be feasible or appropriate such as in the very young, the extremely nervous or those requiring several extractions.
Sedation Service - This service is provided for people with learning disabilities and medical conditions where treatment under local anaesthesia alone is not feasible and conscious sedation is required.
Domiciliary Service - This service is provided for those with mobility problems, frail elderly people or for those who are housebound.
Contact Information
Dental Referral Office
Dental Single Point of Access, Level A Mary Seacole Wing, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton, SO14 0YG
Opening hours
- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5.00 pm
Special Notice
The service operates from 8.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm- 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am-12.30pm and 1pm- 4.30pm Friday. Some clinics operate part time.