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Dental Centre

Joining the practice

Due to long waiting times we are unable to take any more new patients. This will take effect from Monday 29 April until further notice.

For help with finding a local NHS dentist please contact search NHS Choices for up to date lists in your local area

We will hope to begin accepting new patients again later this year.

Please note NHS charges apply.

Joining the Dental Centre as a new patient

Surgery: +44 (0) 1225 386065
NHS out of hours service: 08451 206680

From 2 April 2013, the NHS helpline number will change from 08451 206680 to 111

Changes to NHS dentistry

From 1st April 2006, the Government is changing the arrangements for NHS dentistry in England. It is also introducing a new system of charges that NHS patients pay for their treatment.

The University Dental Centre has decided to continue to provide NHS care under the new terms, but there will be some changes to the way we work. These are described in our leaflet. Your practice team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the new arrangements. We always aim to provide a high standard of care and service for patients

Our practice hours are as shown. If you have a dental problem, please call us within these times. We will be able to offer you a time for treatment of any dental emergencies. If out of hours, please call the PCT help-line on 0845 1206680.

Disabled access

The Practice is not equipped for wheelchair access currently. If you have access needs that we are unable to cater for, we would be happy to refer you to a fully equipped clinic in Bath.

Making appointments

The Government’s changes mean that patients will no longer be registered with their dentist, but this does not mean that you cannot continue to see your usual dentist. If you ask us for an appointment, we will try to offer you one as soon as possible at a convenient time within the hours we have set aside for NHS patients. The NHS now asks us to provide a fixed, limited amount of NHS care each year and so we have to allocate our time and our NHS budget accordingly.

Appointment Reminders - new system from 1 May 2012

Due to the increased costs of Royal Mail the Dental Centre will no longer be sending reminders for check ups by post.

We will be trialling text reminders for appointments, please let the receptionist know if you would like a reminder. We can remind you that you are due for a check up via e-mail or text.

We would appreciate your feedback about this change in our service.

Cancellations and missed appointments

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can use the appointment for another patient on our waiting list. If you miss more than 2 appointments and give less than one working day’s notice, we may not be able to complete your treatment or offer you NHS care in the future. After a missed appointment you will have to pay the cost of the treatment band again when the appointment is rebooked.

The practice offers a wide range of treatment under the NHS this includes fillings, crowns, removal of wisdom teeth. There are some treatments we do not offer under the NHS which are available privately such as mouth guards, bridges and white fillings in back teeth. The practice does not have a hygienist all hygiene services are carried out by the dentist.

This practice does not offer any orthodontic care. When patients need orthodontics and meet the Government guidelines for NHS care, we will refer you to a local colleague who undertakes NHS work. If the extent of treatment needed is not enough to qualify for NHS treatment, we will refer you to a private orthodontist. Please be aware that orthodontics to those over the age of 18 is usually only available privately in the UK.

NHS dental treatment is free if you are under 18, or a full time student under 19. You also qualify for free treatment if you are getting the following benefits or tax credits:

• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seeker's Allowance or Minimum Income Guarantee
• Pesion Credit Guarantee
• You are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate.
• You are named on a valid HC2 certificate

Partial Help: If you are named on an HC3 Certificate, you might get some help towards the cost of your NHS Dental treatment.

Proof of exemption must be shown. Those people on a low income but not on the above list may use form HC1 to see if they are eligible with help with NHS costs.

What does it cost?

From 1st April 2007, government NHS patient charges changed. For NHS charges, instead of paying a proportion of the cost of your treatment, you pay one of four fixed charges relating to the type of care and treatment you have. The charge bands are given below. If you have a check-up and two fillings, for example, you will pay one Band 2 charge of £48.00. If you need a crown as well, you will pay one Band 3 charge of £209. If you need three crowns you will also pay one Band 3 charge of £209.

Private care

NHS patients can opt to have part of their treatment privately. Private treatment gives you more time with your dentist as well as personal service, greater choice of materials and higher quality laboratory work for a better aesthetic result. There is also a greater range of treatment options available as cosmetic treatment excluded from the NHS. Because the charges are changing, some private treatment may even be cheaper. The practice team will be happy to answer any questions you have about the new charges.

Due to the new NHS system we will now expect payment for dental treatment to be made upfront. We accept cash, cheques and most credit/ debit cards. We have a minimum charge of £10 on credit/ debit cards.

If you require copies of your dental records there will be a standard charge of £10.00.

If you have any complaints or comments about the service you have received please direct them to the practice manager, Jane Timothy. These will be dealt with in accordance with our Code of Practice for handling of complaints.

Reminders and recalls

At the end of your course of treatment, your dentist will discuss with you when you will need to see a dentist again. NHS dentists will now follow guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on how often patients need to see their dentist, according to their oral health needs. It is no longer the norm for NHS patients to have two NHS check-ups each year, if you do not need them. The Department of Health wishes NHS resources to be allocated to those who need it most. You can of course visit your dentist more often privately if you prefer to talk to your dentist more regularly about your oral health needs, have a regular hygiene visit and have the reassurance that all is well.

We will continue to offer to either book your next appointment in advance or send you a reminder nearer the time.

Caring for children's teeth

The Department of Health have issued new guidelines regarding toothpaste use in children. They now recommend that under the age of three all children should be using 1,000 ppm - parts per million - fluoride toothpaste and over the age of three they should use adult strength toothpaste.

• From 6 months of age infants should be encouarged to drink from a cup. From the age of 1 year feeding from a bottle should be discouraged.
• Sugar should not be added to weaning foods.
• Parents should brush or supervise toothbrushing up to the age of 7 years.
• As soon as teeth erupt into the mouth brush them twice a day. Ideally
  last thing at night and one other time.
• The child should spit out the toothpaste but not rinse.
• Children under 3 should have no more than a smear of tooth paste
  on their brush. For those under the age of 7, no more than a
  pea sized amount.
• Sugar free medicines should be used whenever possible.
• Consumption of sugary food and drinks should be reduced and limited to mealtimes.
• Sugars should not be consumed more than four times a day.
• If your child is wearing a brace they should use a fluoride mouthrinse daily (0.05% NaF) at a different time to brushing. They should also consider using a oscillating/rotating power toothbrush.

If you are unsure how much fluoride is contained in your toothpaste, it is written on the side of the tube or packet. It may be in two forms sodium monofluorophosphate and sodium fluoride. The total fluoride content is the sum of the two added together in parts per million.

Feedback

• We will keep you informed of developments.
• We always welcome feedback, if you have any comments or worries please speak to any member of staff or write to us if you wish to. If you need more help you may contact Bath and North East Somerset PCT or the Practice Manager
• We may, later this year, write to you and ask for your views on how the service is working

Have you previously worked as a dental nurse?

If you have had any experience in a dental surgery and would like some extra income let us know as we are always on the look out for locum nurse

At your service

If you have any questions about NHS dental care, please ask a member of the practice team. We will be pleased to help. Should you have any comments or concerns, please talk to the receptionist or the dentist Jane Timothy.

View more information on NHS dentistry

Useful links

Better oral health at www.betteroralhealth.info

Policies

The practice has various practice Policies which are available on request.

• Infection Control Policy
• Confidentiality Policy
• Complaints Policy
• Disclosure of Data

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Dental Centre, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY
Tel: +44 1225 386065
This page maintained by web-ed@bath.ac.uk. Last updated: 14 September, 2011

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