Dental treatments

Who are we?

The Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust Dental Service directly provides a range of NHS dental services. These services have been set up with an aim to improve access to NHS dentistry for patients unable to find an NHS dentist in Shropshire and surrounding areas. We provide specialist services, such as special care dentistry and a domiciliary service (home visits) for patients in the community and treatment under general anaesthetic, intravenous sedation and relative analgesia.

Children's and Special Care Dentistry is a referral service for adults and children with special needs (for example are medically, physically or mentally compromised), older people with medical and mobility issues, people with learning disabilities, and individuals who are severely anxious or phobic (Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Telford and Bridgnorth). We also offer out-patient dental treatment under general anaesthesia for children and adults at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopedic Hospital in Oswestry and treatment under inhalation sedation (laughing gas) and intravenous sedation at the special care dental centres.

The Domiciliary Dental Service for patients unable to attend the dental surgery due to medical and/or mobility difficulties, the service will provide an examination and minimal treatment to patients where they are located, for example in their own homes, residential and nursing homes.

NHS dental practices are available for fee paying and exempt NHS patients in the Craven Arms and Market Drayton areas.

Urgent/Emergency Dental Services at Shrewsbury and Oswestry for patients who require urgent dental treatment, for example, they are in pain, have severe toothache or dental trauma. Urgent/Emergency Dental Services (Out of Hours) provides out of hours emergency dental advice/treatment to residents and visitors to the county.

Our services

Children's and Special Care Dentistry

The Service provides a full range of dental care to both children and adults with special care needs in Bridgnorth, Dawley, Oswestry and Shrewsbury.

General Anaesthesia and Conscious Sedation

The service offers out patient dental treatment under general anaesthesia for children and adults at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital and Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopedic Hospital.

The service also provides dental treatment under inhalation sedation (laughing gas) and intravenous sedation at the Special Care Dental Centres in Bridgnorth, Dawley, Oswestry and Shrewsbury, .

Domiciliary Dental Service

For patients unable to attend the dental surgery due to medical and/or mobility difficulties, the service will provide an examination and minimal treatment to patients where they are located, for example in their own homes, residential and nursing homes. Contact Bridgorth, Dawley, Oswestry or Shrewsbury.

NHS Dental Practices

The service provides routine dental treatment at two NHS Dental Practices, for local communities in Craven Arms and Market Drayton.

Urgent/Emergency Dental Service - By appointment only

Provides urgent/emergency dental treatment at Oswestry and Shrewsbury for patients who have an urgent dental problem.

Urgent/Emergency Dental Service - By appointment only

The service provides Out of Hours urgent/emergency dental advice/treatment to residents and visitors to the county. General dental practitioners will need to make their own arrangements for covering their patients during normal hours.

The people we see

Children's and Special Care Dentistry Patients

For adults and children with special needs (for example are medically, physically or mentally compromised), older people with medical and mobility issues, people with learning disabilities, and individuals who are severely anxious or phobic.

General Anaesthesia and Conscious Sedation Patients

For adults and children with special needs (for example are medically, physically or mentally compromised), older people with medical issues, people with learning disabilities, and individuals who are severely anxious or phobic.

Domiciliary Dental Patients

Patients who are housebound, or in a nursing home or in long term hospital care, for example because of physical, medical, mental and learning disabilities.

NHS Dental Practice Patients

This service is for fee paying and exempt NHS patients within the local areas of the practice.

Urgent/Emergency Dental Patients - Access Clinics

Patients who require urgent dental treatment, for example, they are in pain, have severe toothache or dental trauma.

Urgent/Emergency Dental Patients - Out of Hours

Patients who require urgent treatment are those requiring attention for severe facial swelling and dental trauma, dental and soft tissue acute infection and severe dental or facial pain not controlled by over the counter preparations.

New patients

How to Access our Services

Children's and Special Care Dentistry

Referrals to the service can be made by Dentist's, GP's, other health care professionals and social care representatives.

General Anaesthesia and Conscious Sedation

Referrals to the service can be made by Dentist's, GP's, other health care professionals and social care representatives.

Domiciliary Service

Referral to the service can be made by Dentists, GPs or other healthcare professionals, social representatives, residential care home workers and family members.

Dental Practices

You will need to contact the practice and add your details to the dental list for an appointment; you can do this by phone or in person.

Urgent/Emergency Dental Service - Access Clinics

You can access the emergency dental service by phone or in person. You do not need to be referred by a healthcare professional.

Urgent/Emergency Dental Services

If you have an urgent dental problem that cannot safety wait until your dental surgery is open, contact NHS 111 emergency dental line for advice Monday - Friday after 17.00, Saturday - Sunday and Bank Holidays (24 hours). This service is available to Shropshire residents and people staying in the area.

Existing patients

Continuing care is provided to patients with special, additional needs.

Other patients are discharged back to referring dentists for continuing care.

Recalls are in line with the National Institute of Clinical Excellence.

Services we do not offer

We do not provide the following services:

• Cosmetic procedures, for example tooth whitening
• Private dental treatment

What you should bring with you

• A list of medication
• Payment for any dental treatment received or if exempt from dental charges a valid proof of exemption

Frequently asked questions

Do you provide emergency dental treatment?

Emergency dental treatment is provided at Shrewsbury and Oswestry Dental Clinics.
Please contact the clinic between 9:00 - 12:30 and 13:15pm - 17:00pm for appointment availability and/or further information.

• Shrewsbury Dental Clinic - 01743 341898
• Oswestry Dental Clinic - 01691 663684

Do I have to pay for my dental treatment?

Patients have to pay NHS Dental Charges, apart from patients with exemptions.

Please see the Patient Leaflets page to access information about NHS dental charges and how to get help with health costs.

Payment can be made by:

• Credit/Debit Card
• Cash
• Cheque

What if I miss or cancel an appointment?

If you are unable to keep your appointment please let us know as soon as possible so we can give the appointment to someone else.

If you miss an appointment your Course of Treatment will be closed as “Incomplete”. If you wish to continue with your treatment you may be required to pay a new charge unless you are entitled to free NHS dental treatment or have a valid reason as to why you missed the appointment. Please advise reception.