Special Care Dental Service

About the service

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Special Care Dental Service provide specialised dental care for those who are unable to access dental care in the General Dental Service because of their special needs.  Patients must be registered with a General Medical Practitioner in Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton or the Isle of Wight. In most circumstances a dentist or other health professional will make a referral into the service when it is clear that care cannot be provided by a general dentist.  Please see the referral form and criteria.  Normal NHS Dental charges apply.  Referrals need to include information about exemption status, the dental and special needs and a summary medical history.

We have Clinics located throughout Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight.  Patients are usually seen at the nearest clinic to their home dependent on the special needs and equipment needed.  For further information about referring into the service please contact 0300 300 2014.

For those who are looking for a general dentist or to access emergency dental care because they do not have their own dentist please telephone 111. 

What we do

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Primary Care Dental Service provides dental care for people who have a special need e.g.

children who have:

• management / behavioural problems
• special dental problems
• special medical problems or disabilities

adults who:

• have some physical disabilities
• have learning disabilities
• have medical problems
• are frail elderly
• are housebound

Those who are referred for specialist services e.g.

• General Anaesthetic Service - This service is provided for children in pain where extractions under a local anaesthetic would not be feasible or appropriate such as in the very young, the extremely nervous or those requiring several extractions.

• Sedation Service - This service is provided for people with learning disabilities and medical conditions where treatment under local anaesthesia alone is not feasible and conscious sedation is required.

• Domiciliary Service - This service is provided for those with mobility problems, frail elderly people or for those who are housebound.

Accessing the service

Services are provided for those who are unable to access dental care in the General Dental Services because of their special needs. In most circumstances a dentist or other health professional will make a referral into the service when it is clear that care cannot be provided by a general dentist.

Written referrals for people with special needs are welcome from doctors, dentists, health visitors, school nurses, other health care workers, social services, voluntary agencies and hospitals. Service referral forms can be downloaded from this website. Referrals will need to include information about exemption status, the dental and special needs and a summary medical history. Where it is known we require the NHS number to be provided.

Normal NHS dental charges apply. If you are not exempt from charges you will be asked for payment at each visit. Posters in waiting areas have information on NHS costs.

You can download the referral forms below:

• Adult Special Care Dental Service referral form 
• Children Special Care Dental Service referral form 

If you have any queries please call the Dental Administration Office on 0300 300 2014.