Dental domiciliary care referrals - Public Dental Service

For all emergency referrals or advice during working hours contact:

*Please note that if you are making a telephone referral you will need to have all the relevant patient information required readily available in order to process the referral.

Out of hours emergency advice can be obtained from:

The Public Dental Service (PDS) works in conjunction with General Dental Services and Hospital Services, providing care for those who are unable to access dental care from their local General Dental Practitioner (GDP). The PDS covers a wide range of patient groups and service users with a variety of needs, including domiciliary care.

Patients who are already registered with a local GDP should maintain this registration. The GDP should be the first point of contact for any provision of dental care.

Referral criteria for provision of domiciliary care

This will be based on eligibility and individual dynamic risk assessment by the dental team.

Patients who are unable to access dental care via their local General Dental Practitioner due to:

• physical disability
• complex medical conditions
• acute mental health illness.

In the majority of cases, dental care carried out in a clinical environment offers the safest and most comprehensive treatment options.

Only a limited number of dental procedures are able to be carried out on a domiciliary basis due to access, equipment and safety considerations.

Access to ambulance transport services and specialist equipment, such as wheelchair platforms, within our clinics may allow some patients unable to access their usual dentist to be seen in the dental surgery environment.

Patient groups

• people in their own homes
• some people in hospital
• Palliative Care units
• people in residential care and supported accommodation
• Any other individuals whose circumstances prevent them from accessing surgery-based care. This may be either long term or short term for example illness or accident.

Who can refer for domiciliary care

• General Dental Practitioner
• General Medical Practitioner
• Hospital care team
• Hospice care team
• Day centre
• Dietitian
• Occupational therapist
• Residential/care home
• Speech and language therapist
• Community nursing team
• Physiotherapist
• Any other health care professional.

For all routine referrals:

• Please complete the domiciliary dental referral forms and post to your local dental hub.
• The information we require from care homes prior to commencement of dental treatment is:
  • A completed ‘Eligibility for dental domiciliary care’ form
  • A completed ‘Domicilliary referral form”

It is important that we receive information regarding whether the patient pays for dental treatment or is exempt from payments. (Please refer to the exemption table - Free NHS dental treatment) Details of the next of kin or individual who has power of welfare and/or financial power of attorney rights. The individual/s who has power of welfare and/or power of attorney rights must be fully informed of the proposed treatment and costs by the Care Home prior to the Public Dental Service starting any dental treatment except in case of emergency.

This information will enable us to provide the best possible patient care in a safe and timely manner.

Contact details

For all emergency referrals or advice during working hours contact:

*Please note that if you are making a telephone referral you will need to have all the relevant patient information required readily available in order to process the referral.

Out of hours emergency advice can be obtained from:

Dental treatment will only be started once all the necessary paperwork has been completed except in the case of emergency dental treatment. If it is deemed by the dentist that it would be in the patient’s best interests to have the dental treatment carried out in a clinic setting then it may be necessary to make arrangements to transport the patient to the most appropriate dental clinic for their dental treatment where possible.

Eligibility for dental domiciliary care form 

Domiciliary referral form 

Getting free NHS items and services

• are under 26 years old
• receive certain benefits
• are on a low income
• are pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months
• have an entitlement card
• have a medical exemption certificate
• need to travel to hospital for NHS treatment.

Further information about health costs and entitlements are available from the Scottish Government.