Community Dental Service

The majority of patients seen by the Hampshire Community Dental Service are referred because it may not be easy for them to access treatment in General Dental Practice.

This could be for a number of reasons:

• They have severe learning disabilities
  
• They have mental health issues
• They have medical complications
• They have behavioural difficulties
• They could be homeless or in prison
• They may be dental phobic with other special needs
• They may be looked after children
• They are homebound

The Out of Hours Emergency Dental Service provides advice and emergency treatment for residents and visitors to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.  The EDS works closely with the Hampshire Dental Helpline and uses the same 0845 050 8345 number, so as to give the best possible service to patients.

Calls are taken by experienced Dental Nurses who triage patients and give essential dental advice, allocate appointments at weekends and Bank Holidays, and advise patients on how to find an NHS dentist.

 Opening Times:

 Mon – Fri 5.30pm – 9.30pm (Triage advice only)

Weekends and Bank Holidays 8am – 9.30pm (Appointments and Triage advice available)

The Community Dental Service has recently taken delivery of a new mobile dental unit.  The service provides NHS dental care for patients who have special needs, mobility issues, are medically compromised, housebound, ‘looked after children’ and dental phobics.

The mobile dental unit is an exiting new service, aimed at providing easy access to dental care for patients that are unable to access clinics due to mobility and location challenges. The unit is a fully functional surgery with new up to date equipment, meeting all infection control and health and safety requirements. The dental staff are highly qualified and experienced, committed to providing the highest standards of dental care at all times.

The specially adapted mobile unit comes complete with a platform lift and wheelchair recliner to enable disabled access, and allowing the patient to remain in safety and comfort of their own wheelchair at all times throughout the treatment, eliminating any requirement for manual transfer, hoisting or lifting.

If you would like to know more about our services please contact us on 01329 827145 or e-mail us at hamp-pct.hchcdentalspr@nhs.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Patients are usually referred to Community Dental Services by the dental helpline or from general dental practioners, GPs and other healthcare professionals including social services.

Services are provided from a number of locations across Hampshire including:

• Clinics in Health centres
• Domiciliary care (that is care in people's homes)
• Purpose built General Anaesthesia facility in the Poswillo Unit, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth
• Hospital General Anaesthesia facilities in Winchester and Basingstoke
• Special Access centres Fareham, Winchester, Andover and Petersfield

If you need to be seen at home, or if you would like to know more about the referral process, please call 01329 827145.

The Community Dental Service also play a key part in training the next generation of dental practitioners. We have a trainee dentist and dental therapist post within the service who work as part of  the dental team alongside senior staff. We also have important links with Portsmouth University, strengthening our role in training and development.

Look after your teeth!

You can find loads of tips, advice and guidance about looking after your teeth and gums on the NHS Choices website. Watch videos, find your nearest dentist and carry out a health eating assessment.

Adults with a learning disability

A new DVD resource has been developed as there is strong evidence of poor oral health in adults with learning disabilities and health education resources are currently limited. The DVD is fun and interactive and aimed at service users. More information