The Public Dental Service provides routine and urgent care to a range of priority group patients across Tayside. Care provided is as prescribed within the Statement of Dental Remuneration and subject to NHS patient fees. Emergency care is provided for patients who do not have a registered dentist. Appointments are available on the same day. Out of hours and at weekends calls are triaged by NHS 24.
Priority groups include those with physical, cognitive or medical special needs and those who are socially disadvantaged (such as those experiencing homelessness or problems associated with substance misuse).
The Public Dental Service provide a referral service for General Dental Practitioners and other Health Care Professionals. The service provides dental care for child and adult patients who require sedation or general anaesthetic or require specialist input. The service also accepts referrals for bariatric patients who cannot be treated in their own practice and patients with access problems. The service has wheelchair platforms in all areas to enable patients to remain in their own wheelchair during their dental care. The Scottish Ambulance Transport Service transport eligible patients to Public Dental Service Clinics.
Oral Health Promotion
The PDS’ Oral Health Improvement Team (OHIT) promote oral health through participation in National Programmes. These include -
- Childsmile programme (supported and monitored toothbrushing in schools and nurseries and application of Fluoride varnish twice a year to the most deprived schools in Tayside)
- Caring for Smiles (Caring for Smiles is Scotland’s national oral health promotion, training and support programme, which aims to improve the oral health of older people, particularly those living in care homes). The OHIT offer basic oral care training in Care Homes or SCQF accredited Oral Care Training - Foundation and Intermediate Levels.
- Mouth Matters (Mouth Matters is an evidence-informed oral health promotion resource for Prisons. It has been compiled under expert guidance and is designed to enable health professionals, prison staff and support workers to meet the specific oral health needs of offender populations in Scotland. Its overall purpose is to raise awareness of the key factors that affect oral health and provide core motivational interviewing skills that can be used to support an oral health brief intervention tailored to offenders.)
- Smile4Life (Smile4life enables health and social care staff and support workers to provide evidence-based tailored oral health messages to meet the specific and exceptional needs of homeless (roofless and houseless) people in Scotland.)
- Open Wide (Open Wide is an oral health improvement programme for adults aged 16-64 who require support with daily oral care as a result of a physical, cognitive or medical condition.)
Monitor the oral health of the population of Tayside
The Public Dental Service participate in the National Dental Inspection Programme. Children in Primary 1 and Primary 7 have their teeth inspected at school. The findings are shared with Public Health Scotland in order that the inspection information can be used to help with the delivery of NHS dental services across Scotland. The findings are also shared with parents/guardians and may also be shared with a child’s registered dentist.
Provide undergraduate teaching to dental and dental therapy students
Before they qualify and can practise independently, dental and dental therapy students must gain the necessary experience of routine dentistry under the supervision of qualified dental professionals. Student treatments are carried out free of charge in exchange for a patient's time and commitment to help train the dental workforce of the future. Student clinics will not be a suitable option for everyone. Patients suitable for student teaching are selected by the Public Dental Service. The student Outreach clinics are located at Broxden Dental Centre Perth, Kings Cross HCCC Dundee and Springfield Medical Centre Arbroath.
