Residents on the Isle of Wight will now have improved access to routine and urgent NHS dental care as two new NHS dental practices open on the Island.
Dental provider Dentistry For You, is working with NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight to provide 21,000 routine urgent dental appointments as part of a national programme to support patients who need emergency treatments.
This follows on from the opening of Damira practice in Ryde who were also awarded a contract to deliver 21,000 urgent dental appointments.
Roach: We are changing the landscape of NHS dentistry on the Island
James Roach, Director of Primary Care and Local Care at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said,
“We have worked closely with Dentistry For You to increase the availability of routine urgent dental appointments for residents on the Isle of Wight. We are expanding access points for patients and will soon be launching urgent dental hubs across various locations to help deliver these appointments.
“Access to routine NHS dental appointments is improving and this significant increase in routine urgent care will strengthen NHS dentistry locally. As a commissioner we are keen to maintain increasing appointment availability year on year, and we encourage patients to use the appointments available in line with need.
“We are changing the landscape of NHS dentistry on the Island and would like to thank all our partners for their support. We are also about to launch an oral health promotion programme for children and identify a site for a dental school hub.”
Kanani: Use 111 online for urgent treatment
Dr Murtaza Kanani, Clinical Director at Dentistry For You, said,
“We are pleased to support the delivery of routine and urgent dental care appointments across the Isle of Wight.
“Using 111 online is the best first step for anyone unsure if they need urgent treatment.
“They will then be guided to the right service, which may include one of the local practices offering these additional urgent appointments.”
Who can use urgent appointments
These urgent appointments are for patients who are likely to be in significant pain, including those suffering from infections or needing urgent repairs to a lost filling or crown, and require urgent treatment.
Use 111 online or call 111 to check symptoms and access the right care.
Conditions suitable for urgent dental appointments include:
- Severe toothache: persistent and intense pain that cannot be managed with over-the-counter painkillers.
- Dental abscess: infection causing swelling, pain, and possibly fever.
- Broken or knocked-out tooth: trauma resulting in a fractured or completely dislodged tooth.
- Bleeding in mouth following a dental procedure or an injury that doesn’t stop by itself but can be self-controlled using local measures. Note that if bleeding cannot be self-controlled in any way, emergency care may be necessary.
- Swelling: significant swelling in the mouth or face that could indicate an infection.
- Fractured, loose or displaced fillings causing pain.
- Severe bleeding from gums, or acute conditions affecting other soft areas of the mouth (such as cheeks or tongue) which require urgent treatment.
Other treatments may be available at the discretion of the dentist. These treatments may require extra visits and costs.
More information on urgent dental conditions on the website.
News shared on behalf of Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board. Ed
