Special Care Dental Service referrals

GPs can refer adult and child patients to the Special Care Dental Service under the following criteria:

Adults

• Moderate or severe learning difficulties and/or challenging behaviour
• Autistic spectrum disorder
• Severe mental health problems, including dementia
• Severely medically compromised
• Severe physical disability (e.g. need hoist transfer)
• Post head and neck oncology patients
• Palliative and end of life care
• Home visits for housebound patients unable to access a general dental practitioner
• Phobic or highly anxious patients – details of attempted treatment to date will be required
• General anaesthetic for comprehensive dental care that cannot be done under local anaesthetic or sedation
• Treatment under IV or inhalation sedation
• Bariatric service

Children

• Learning difficulties
• Autistic spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Mental health and psychological disorders, including anorexia and bulimia
• Complex physical disabilities
• Very anxious and phobic children – details of attempted treatment to date will be required
• Very young children with extensive decay
• Orthodontic extractions where sedation is required
• Treatment under inhalation sedation
• Intravenous sedation where deemed necessary for those 14 years and above