Learn more about how to access an NHS dentist and our plans for the future below.
Urgent dental careFind an NHS dentist
You can contact any NHS dentist and ask for an appointment if you have symptoms or need a routine check-up. You may be asked to join a waiting list before you can get a dental appointment.
Find an NHS dentistRoutine dental appointments
If you or a family member need NHS dental care and regularly attend a dental practice, you should contact your practice directly to request an appointment.
Norfolk and Suffolk ICB is unfortunately unable to book appointments for treatment or register patients for treatment.
Urgent dental treatment
If you need urgent dental treatment, call your dentist first because their voicemail message may advise where to get Out of Hours treatment.
You can also contact NHS 111 to find an urgent dental service near you.
If you need urgent dental care, learn more about what do to here.
Dental services for those with additional needs
Access to Special Care Dentistry Services is available for patients with additional needs and anxious patients who require care under sedation or general anaesthesia.
These services are generally available only upon referral from dental providers under the general dental practitioners (GDP) contract.
You can find the referral criteria for Norfolk and Waveney patients here, and the referral criteria for Suffolk (excluding Waveney) patients here.
If you or someone you care for requires specialist services, please speak to your dental reception team in the first instance to enquire if they can refer into this service. If you aren’t registered with a dentist, please contact us.
Accessing orthodontic treatment (usually with braces)
In most cases your dentist will refer you to an orthodontist, although you may sometimes be able to get treatment directly from your dentist. NHS orthodontic treatment is free for people under the age of 18 with a clear health need for treatment.
Dental services in care homes and for housebound patients (Norfolk and Waveney)
Access to urgent dental treatment for residents living in care homes and housebound patients is available for patients in Norfolk and Waveney.
Please contact us to enquire about referrals to the service.
Our plans and priorities
We know that access to NHS dentistry services is challenging for many people right now. Change will take time, but we are committed to ensuring everyone can access high quality dental care across Norfolk and Suffolk.
We are working to refresh the dental delivery plans for Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board (ICB), building on plans developed by Norfolk and Waveney ICB and Suffolk and North East Essex ICB.
Oral health advice
The Dental Health Foundation offers some helpful tips on how to look after your mouth and teeth, including advice on dealing with common complaints to help prevent them from becoming serious.
You can find information onhow to look after children’s teeth on the NHS website.
More advice ontaking care of your teeth and gums can also be found on the NHS website.
Complaints
If you would like to make a complaint about an NHS dental service in Norfolk or Suffolk, you can choose one of two ways to do this:
– You can complain to the dental surgery where you received the NHS service.
Or
– You can complain us, as we are the commissioner of the service.
Learn how to make a complaint to us.
