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.
- 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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS — Dental Services
Go immediately to A&E if you have:
- Swelling in your mouth or neck that makes it difficult for you to swallow, speak or breath
- Swelling around your eye causing you visual problems or closing your eye
- Lost consciousness or vomited following an injury to your head
What is the NHFT Specialist Dental Service and what do we do?
The NHFT Dental Department is a referral-only service that provides a wide range of dental treatments including Special Care Dentistry, Oral Surgery, Paediatric Dentistry and Oral Health Promotion.
We provide support and dental care for children and adults who are unable to access dental treatment in general dental practice due to significant medical problems, learning disabilities, complex mental health problems, physical disabilities or other issues.
'I have a dental problem, what shall I do?'
If you are registered with a dentist, please contact them immediately as they will be able to help you.
If you are not registered with a dentist, contact your local Urgent Dental Centres:
- Bupa, Cottingham Road (Corby) - 01536 401925
- Bupa, Billing Road (Northampton)- 01604 639296
- Bupa, Mannock Medical Centre (Wellingborough) - 01933224462
For out-of-hours, contact 111
Which problems require urgent care?
- Dental and gum infections. Please inform your dentist or call handler if you have a high temperature, problems opening your mouth or medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart problems or a compromised immune system
- Severe toothache that does not go away taking painkillers
- Broken teeth where the nerve is exposed
- Bleeding following a tooth extraction
- Trauma in your jaw bone, face or that may have caused your tooth to fall out. Be aware that according to the severity, you might need to go to A&E.
Which problems do not require urgent dental care?
The following problems do not require you to immediately see a dentist:
- toothache that goes away with painkillers, small tooth fractures,
- loose or displaced crowns or bridges
- fractured or loose dentures
- broken fillings
- bleeding gums
However, you should still get in touch with your dentist or contact your local urgent dental care services as they will be able to give you further advice.
How can I register with an NHS dentist?
Visit the following website: www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist. You will need to contact the dental practice directly and check whether they are currently accepting NHS patients.
How much does NHS dental treatment cost?
- Emergency dental treatment- £25.80 This covers emergency care in a primary care NHS dental practice such as pain relief or a temporary filling.
- Band 1 course of treatment - £25.80 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 course of treatment- £70.80 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 course of treatment- £306.80 This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other laboratory work.
For further information, please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-much-will-i-pay-for-nhs-dental-treatment/
How often should I have a dental check-up?
Your dentist will advise you on the frequency of your dental check-ups depending on your individual risk to dental disease; this might go from a minimum of 3 monthly visits to every 2 years.
Regardless of the frequency, check-ups are important for your dentist to check your mouth for tooth decay, gum disease or mouth cancer.
Where can I access further information about how look after your teeth and gums?
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/take-care-of-your-teeth-and-gums/