What is the Dental Domiciliary Service?

Domiciliary dental care provides dental treatment for those patients, who cannot, through physical or mental disability, reach a dental surgery. This service is provided within a home setting, which may be the patient’s own home, or within residential accommodation, such as a nursing home.

Patients who may be eligible for the domiciliary dental service include:

• patients who are housebound due to complex medical histories
• patients with mental disabilities, such as Agoraphobia or Alzheimer’s Disease
• patients with physical disabilities, such as mobility problems
• patients in hospital or hospices, whether short or long term.

What services can be provided in a domiciliary setting?

A range of dental services can be provided, including fillings, provision of dentures, extractions and cleaning of teeth. Not all dental procedures can be provided in a domiciliary setting, in some cases a hospital or clinic environment may be necessary for the patient’s safety. Each patient’s case is individually assessed by the dentist and a decision will be made with the patient about treatment options and how to proceed with the dental care the patient needs.

Preparing for the domiciliary dental visit

Prior to the visit, the patient will receive a medical history form, which should be completed and returned to Referral Management Team. Please make sure that the form is correctly filled in with a current address, postcode, and telephone number. It would be helpful if the patient could include details of parking facilities in the area.

If the patient is unable to move around unaided, or requires assistance from a family member or other carer, please make sure they can be present at this appointment. If a patient has a learning disability and is unable to consent to their own treatment, the dental team will require information as to who can legally sign on the patient’s behalf. If the patient does have a next of kin, power of attorney, family member or solicitor dealing with their care, please include with the medical history. (i.e. name, address and contact number).

Please contact the clinic if the patient requires an interpreter.

NHS dental charges apply for domiciliary dental service. Before the first appointment the Dental Team will need to know whether the patient is exempt from these dental charges. Following the first visit, a payment will either be taken over the phone by the Finance Team or if we are unable to contact you, an invoice will be sent out.

For information on exemption please visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk or call 0845 850 11 66.

The first visit is most often assessment-only, with treatment not always possible at this appointment.

If patients are assessed and it is deemed more appropriate for them to be seen in a clinic-setting this will be arranged after the first visit.

Environment

Please could the patient assist the dental team by providing a location in which treatment can be provided with dignity and privacy. Access to water and electricity will be required, along with ventilation in the room. Please make sure the room being used has not been smoked in on the day of the appointment. Please make sure that all pets are removed from the treatment room and that dogs are safely secured in an alternative room while the dental team make their visit.

Identification of staff

Colleagues will identify themselves with NHS name badges. If the patient has any concerns about who the caller is please contact our head office on 0300 790 0158.

How to access the service

Patients can be referred by a healthcare professional, for example a doctor, general dentist or district nurse. Self referrals can be made by the patient or by a carer on the patient’s behalf.

Before the first domiciliary visit appointment can be offered, the following is required:

• medical history, including a full list of medications being taken and any allergies
• name and address of the patient’s doctor or specialist
• nature of any physical or mental disability
• social issues which necessitate a home visit
• details of the legal arrangements for the patient, if required.

Please send referrals to: Referral Management Team Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust Dental Services Head Office, Capital House, first floor, Jubilee Way, Faversham, Kent ME13 8GD Phone: 0330 123 9438 Email: kcht.communitydentalservice@nhs.net

Urgent treatment and out-of-hours care

Urgent treatment means treatment the dentist considers necessary to relive severe pain or prevent your oral condition deteriorating before you can make a routine appointment.

We only offer non-urgent, routine services. If you are not in a current course of treatment and experience pain or swelling, or if you need an urgent appointment outside of the opening hours, please phone Dentaline on 01634 890300.