NHS England South East is seeking people’s views about NHS dental services which are provided for people with additional needs, for example if you are very anxious about visiting the dentist or if you have either a learning or physical disability which makes it hard to visit a general dentist.
These services are sometimes known as Community Dental Services. NHS England South East is seeking views to help see if there are any changes the NHS can make to improve these services for patients.
About the services
Special Care Adult and Paediatric Dental Services include a wide range of services provided for both children and adults unable to attend general dental services due to additional needs, for example, those relating to physical or learning disabilities, or where they have a need for enhanced support to receive treatment.
Services are provided to patient groups with a variety of needs, some of the key groups are: adults and children with learning disabilities; those with physical or sensory disabilities; with complex medical problems: where patients need dentistry in their homes; where patients need general anaesthetic or sedation; obese adults requiring a bariatric chair for treatment and children in the care of social services or with complex social problems.
NHS England South East is currently in the planning stages of re-commissioning these Community Dental Services, as the current contracts to provide these services in the region are due to come to an end on 31st March 2021.
Feedback from patients and the public, the dental profession and others in the local community will be considered in developing these services for local patients and in informing new contracts for the provision of these services.
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