Accessing NHS Dental Care

We are not currently taking on NHS patients for routine care.

Accessing NHS Dental Care

Routine NHS Dental Care:

We are not currently taking on NHS patients for routine care.

There is no longer a central NHS dental waiting list in Cornwall or Devon. Patients seeking a routine NHS dentist are advised to check availability directly with practices.

To find an NHS dentist accepting new patients, please visit the NHS Find a Dentist service:
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist/

NHS dentistry operates differently from GP services:

  • Dental practices are independent businesses and may offer both NHS and private care
  • Patients are not registered with a dentist in the same way as with a GP
  • You can attend any practice that is accepting NHS patients
  • Practices may operate their own waiting lists, but this does not guarantee future NHS treatment

Dentists do not have catchment areas. This means that you don’t have to see your nearest or local dentist. If you are looking for a dentist you can try different areas that are convenient for you, such as near your place of work or study.

Routine NHS Dental Charges:

There is a standard NHS charge for this service. The charge depends on the treatment needed to keep your mouth, gums, and teeth healthy.

You will only be asked to pay one charge for each complete course of treatment, even if it requires multiple visits.

BandChargeIncludes
Band 1£27.90Examination, diagnosis (e.g., X-rays), prevention advice, scale and polish if needed, fluoride varnish or fissure sealant. Urgent care also falls under Band 1.
Band 2£76.60Includes Band 1 plus fillings, root canal work, or tooth extraction.
Band 3£332.10Includes Bands 1 and 2 plus crowns, dentures, and bridges.

Unscheduled Dental Care:

If you do not have an NHS dentist and experience a dental emergency, you can still be seen through our Unscheduled Dental Care service.

We are proudly commissioned by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board to deliver this valuable service. Each year, we provide much needed urgent dental care appointments, keeping patients out of pain and A&E.

What is Unscheduled Dental Care?

Patients requiring unscheduled dental care are triaged into one of three categories:

  • Emergency unscheduled dental care (immediately life threatening and oral and dental conditions)
  • Urgent unscheduled dental care
  • Non-urgent unscheduled dental care

This service is designed to provide timely, safe and effective care for dental issues that arise unexpectedly.

We must follow very strict criteria, so a member of our team will ask questions about your dental problem. Patients who require an appointment will be allocated a dental care appointment. If life threatening, on triage our team will signpost you on where best to seek care.

How to Access Treatment

  • Call 0333 405 0290
  • Do not attend the practice without an appointment – you will not be seen unless we are expecting you

There is a standard NHS charge for this service of £27.90, details of which you can find here.

Our tightly managed appointment process ensures stringent safety measures are in place to protect our patients and teams.

Free NHS dental treatment or help with health costs:

You may be eligible for help with all or part of the costs of your NHS dental treatment. To see if this applies to you, visit the NHS website here. You can also use this online tool to check what help you could get to pay for NHS costs.

Please be aware that you will need to bring proof of exemption to all dental appointments otherwise you may be asked to pay.

If you’ve paid for NHS dental treatment but later find out you can get it free or partly paid for, you may be able to get a refund (please be aware this is time sensitive). See here for details.