Covid-19 Coronavirus

Dentists

COVID-19 - NHS Dental and NHS Orthodontic Provision

Dental Services Update – 18 November 2020

From Wednesday 18 November 2020 the Island's residents will be able to access their usual dental practice as they normally would. The emergency dental service is available at weekends and bank holidays between the hours of 9am and 11am (the rota is within the downloadable documents). There will still be some differences that patients should be aware of and this information is available under the downloadable document 'Guidance for Dentists – 18.11.20’. Essentially any patient who is considered as 'low risk' following a risk assessment carried out by the dental practice will be able to access dental services for the whole range of dental provision. Patients who are considered 'high risk' will be able to contact their own dental practice and will receive treatment via telephone advice, antibiotics or pain relief unless the dental condition the patient wishes to access services for is considered life-threatening.  In the event a high risk patient requires emergency treatment then this will be arranged for them via their dentist.  If patients have any queries or concerns they can contact dental@gov.im and a member of the Primary Care Team will be able to assist.

Orthodontic Services Update – 18 November 2020

As with dental services, all ‘low risk’ patients can now be seen for their ongoing orthodontic care and both service areas (Regent Dental Care and the Consultant-led Service at Nobles) are fully operational.  Patients will be booked in based on need and urgency. There may still be a delay for patients awaiting their orthodontic treatment to commence whilst those who are in active treatment are seen first and patients can expect to receive an appointment as soon as the service is able to offer them.  As with dental services above the guidance to dentists also extends to the orthodontic services. If patients have any queries or concerns they can contact Ortho@gov.im and a member of the Primary Care Team will be able to assist.

NHS Dentists

General Dental Services are provided under the National Health Service and comprise of examinations (check-ups) and all the necessary treatment required to have and maintain a healthy mouth.

The NHS Dental Practices are listed below with an indication of which practices are currently accepting new NHS patients (if a practice is indicated as taking on new NHS patients you may contact them direct to be added as their NHS patient).  In the event no practices are showing has having NHS availability and you wish to join one of these practices, please contact Dental@gov.im with your name, date of birth, address, contact email and telephone number and you will be added to the allocation list held by Primary Care Services. You may also specify if there is a particular area or practice you’d prefer to be allocated to. Once practices are able to take on further NHS patients you will be contacted accordingly. Please note that if you wish for family members to also be allocated a place you must also list their details within the email.

If you are not already allocated to a dental practice you do have access to the Department's Community Dental Service at the Central Community Health Centre, Westmoreland Road, Douglas. If you have any pain, bleeding or swelling please contact +44 1624 642785 to arrange an emergency appointment on Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 4.30pm and Friday 8.30am to 4pm.

Out of Hours Emergency Dental Clinic

An Emergency Dental Clinic (EDC) is provided by an on duty dentist for weekends and bank holidays. This service is delivered at one of the NHS Dental Practices. The rota can be found in downloadable documents.

The Service is available between 9am and 11am each weekend and bank holiday. Patients can make contact direct with the practice responsible for operating the EDC and should always call the relevant dental practice first to arrange a visit on the day – this is not a drop-in service. The charge patients can expect to pay (unless exempt from charges – see exemption categories below) is £18.50.  Any patient notes/records taken at the EDC will be computerised at the dental practice visited, but on request a patient’s regular dentist can request a copy of these records if required. The dentist at the EDC will be able to assist with any of the treatments listed within Schedule 4 of the Dental Charges Regulations linked at the top of this page.

The Manx Emergency Doctor Service (MEDS) is available every weekday evening and 24/7 at weekends and bank holidays. MEDS GPs can offer advice, pain relief if required and can also give patients a referral to take with them to the next available EDC if required.

NHS Dental Charges

A charge is normally payable for NHS dental services (except for groups who may be exempt listed below) and a dental practice may ask you to pay before treatment has taken place. All patients should expect to be given a treatment plan which shows exactly what treatment they require and how much this will cost before they commence treatment with their dentist. 

If you normally pay for NHS dental treatment, there are three standard charges (Band 1 £18.50, Band 2 £50.50 or Band 3 £219) and you will pay one charge even if you need to visit more than once to complete your course of treatment (as identified in your treatment plan). The amount you pay will depend on the treatment you need to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

If you need more treatment at the same charge level (e.g. an additional filling) within 2 months of seeing your dentist, this will be free of charge.

Band 1 charges - Diagnosis, treatment planning and maintenance
clinical examination, case assessment and report
orthodontic case assessment and report
advice, dental charting, diagnosis and treatment planning
radiographic examination, including panoral and lateral headplates, and
radiological report
study casts including in association with occlusal analysis
colour photographs
instruction in the prevention of dental and oral disease including dietary
advice and dental hygiene instruction
surface application as primary preventative measures, sealants and topical
fluoride preparations
scaling, polishing and marginal correction of fillings
taking material for pathological examination
adjustments to and easing of dentures or orthodontic appliances
treatment of sensitive cementum
Band 2 charges - Treatment
non-surgical periodontal treatment, including root planing, deep scaling,
irrigation of periodontal pockets and subgingival curettage and all necessary
scaling and polishing
surgical periodontal treatment, including gingivectomy, gingivoplasty or
removal of an operculum
surgical periodontal treatment, including raising and replacement of a
mucoperiostal flap, curettage, root planing and bone resection
free gingival grafts
permanent fillings in amalgam, composite resin, synthetic resin, glass
ionomer, compomers, silicate or silico-phosphate, including acid etch
retention
sealant restorations
endodontic treatment of permanent or retained deciduous teeth
pulpotomy
apicectomy
extraction of teeth
transplantation of teeth
oral surgery including surgical removal of cyst, buried root, unerupted
tooth, impacted tooth, or exostosed tooth and alveolectomy
soft tissue surgery in relation to the buccal cavity and lips
frenectomy, frenoplasty and frenotomy
relining and rebasing dentures including soft linings
addition of tooth, clasp, labial or buccal flange to dentures
splints (other than laboratory fabricated splints) in relation to periodontally
compromised teeth and in connection with external trauma
bite raising appliances (other than laboratory fabricated appliances)
Band 3 charges - Provision of appliances
laboratory fabricated or composite veneers, including acid etch retention
inlays, pinlays, onlays and palatal veneers, in alloys containing 60% or more
fine gold, porcelain, composite resin and ceramics
Crowns including any pin or post aids to retention
full or three quarter crown cast in alloys containing not less than 33% fine
gold or platinum or palladium
full or jacket crown cast in alloys containing stainless steel or cobalt
chromium or nickel chromium
crown in porcelain, synthetic resin and other non-metallic crowns
full or jacket crown in alloys containing not less than 33% fine gold or
platinum or palladium, or alloys containing stainless steel or cobalt
chromium or nickel chromium, with thermally bonded porcelain
jacket crown thermally bonded to wrought platinum coping
prefabricated full or jacket crown, including any pin or post retention
Bridges including any pin or post aids to retention
bridges in alloys containing 60% or more fine gold with or without
thermally bonded facings
bridges cast in alloys containing stainless steel, cobalt chromium or nickel
chromium, with or without thermally bonded facings
acid etch retained bridges
bridges in other non-metallic materials
provision of full (complete) or partial dentures and obturators in synthetic
resin and/or metal, including any cast or wrought metal components or aids
to retention
orthodontic treatment and appliances
other custom made appliances excluding sports guards

During your check up, your dentist may:

  • Carry out a full examination of your mouth, teeth and gums
  • Ask about your general health and any problems you have had with your teeth, mouth or gums since your last visit
  • Ask about and give advice on your diet, smoking and drinking
  • Identify any treatment that is required, explain any risks, as well as costs of all treatment you may need and provide a treatment plan detailing this
  • Ask about your current teeth cleaning habits and advise the appropriate ways to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy
  • Discuss when your next visit should be 

Patient groups exempt from NHS dental charges:

  • You are under 16
  • You are aged under 19 and in full-time education
  • You are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
  • You have reached state retirement age
  • You, or your dependent, receive Income Support
  • You receive Income Based Job Seekers Allowance or Employed Persons Allowance
  • You are a war disablement pensioners
  • You are registered blind

There is no charge for writing a prescription* or removing stitches or repairs to dentures.

*Usual charges apply when prescriptions are dispensed.

Patients not falling within the above categories may be able to get help with the cost of NHS treatment on low income grounds and are required to complete a form F1, which is then submitted to:

Primary Care Services

Department of Health and Social Care

Crookall House

Demesne Road

Douglas

Telephone:+44 1624 642694

Email:Send Email

List of Dentists providing NHS Treatment on the Isle of Man 

Douglas

Onchan

Ramsey

Port Erin

Peel

 

How to Make a Compliment or Complaint

If you wish to make a comment about a Dental Practice or to compliment their services, you can do this by either telling the practice direct or by contacting the Primary Care Dental Service Team (contact details above). Additionally you may wish to use the Friends and Family online survey (below).

If you are dissatisfied about the services provided to you by your NHS Dental Practice you can either contact the Practice directly or Primary Care Services, who will pass on your complaint to the relevant NHS Dental Practice. To make a formal complaint, this must be in writing either by letter or email. For more information on making a complaint.

Friends and Family Survey

Every time you visit your NHS dentist you are invited to take part in a short online survey. This is an anonymous survey and you are free to leave your comments about the practice in the space provided. The survey results are checked regularly and will be discussed with the dental practices accordingly.

Additional Information

Each NHS Dental Practice will have their own patient leaflet and also have their own policies and procedures. Patients are welcome to ask for a copy of this when they visit their practice. From time to time practices remove patients from their list – there should be clear guidelines given to patients as to why this happens.  As an example, practices tend to remove patients if:

  • A patient has failed to attend 3 or more appointments (practices may differ)
  • A patient has not returned to the practice for an examination appointment for over 2 years
  • A patient behaves violent or aggressively
  • A patient refuses necessary treatment
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