Dental & Therapy Student Clinics - Making a Referral for Adults

• Patients referred to the Dundee Dental Hospital and Research School via this form will be assessed and treated by undergraduate dental and therapy students, supervised by qualified clinical staff.
• As this referral is outside the NHS referral pathway, at certain times of year and depending on waiting lists patients may be waiting for longer than 18 weeks to be seen for treatment.
  • During this time, it is important that routine check-ups and treatment, including periodontal maintenance is continued to prevent deterioration of the periodontal condition.
• Patients will be screened for suitability prior to being accepted for treatment. Patients who are deemed unsuitable for treatment by an undergraduate will be returned to the referring practitioner for any recommended treatment and not directly transferred for specialist care.
  • Patients should be ASA 1 or 2.
  • Patients should be able to comfortably lie fully back in the dental chair to accept treatment.
  • We are unable to offer sedation or GA for treatment of patients, and referrals should not be made because of anxiety management problems. Appropriate referral to Special Care Dentistry should be considered for these patients.
• Patients under treatment with undergraduate dental and therapy students should expect longer appointments and (depending on the nature of treatment) more appointments than in general practice to allow for good oversight and teaching by clinical supervisors. Although we do not charge for providing dental treatment, there are higher demands on patient time to attend the appointments.
• Patients who are accepted for treatment of periodontal diseases should continue to be registered and to receive their routine dental check-ups with the referring dental practitioner.
  • Any emergency or acute dental management should be offered by the referring general dental practitioner.
  • Management of routine restorations and prostheses should be attended to by the referring dentist unless contacted by Dundee Dental Hospital to confirm that we will provide that aspect of care as well.
  • Courses of periodontal therapy in primary care, including scaling and RSD, should be refrained from while the patient is under the care of the Dundee Dental Hospital for their periodontal condition.
• Appointments can only be offered between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Treatment may be subject to delays, for example due to University holidays and examinations.
• Treatment will be carried out on clinics with multiple bays and not in separate surgeries, although this will not hamper maintenance of confidentiality.
• Following stabilisation of the periodontal disease, it is expected that the patient will be discharged back to the referring general dental practitioner for supportive periodontal care.
• Patients who, despite best efforts, have either a level of oral hygiene that is insufficient to maintain periodontal health, or who are unable to comply with the proposed treatment plan, will be discharged back to the referring clinician for supportive periodontal care within the primary care sector, accepting that a gradual deterioration is likely unless there is a significant improvement in oral self-care.
• Failing to attend appointments or cancelling multiple appointments will lead to discharge of the patient back to the referring general dental practitioner.

• We accept referral of patients whose treatment needs theoretically lie entirely within the scope of primary care.
• Patients with periodontal diseases that may require specialist advice or care should be appropriately referred for a consultant opinion (see ‘Referring to DDH Specialist Services: Restorative Dentistry’).
• Suitable patients may have:
  • Visible plaque and calculus deposits
  • Generalised or localised gingivitis
  • Periodontitis, where the disease severity should not exceed the following:
    • BPE 1-3
    • BPE 4 in 1-4 sextants only
    • No pocket of more than 7mm.

• Please complete the referral form as fully and accurately as possible
• Detail any advice given and treatment which has already been provided to the patient
• If you have diagnostic radiographs which are up-to-date, please email them to the radiology inbox (TAY.radiologyddh@nhs.scot) stating the patient name in the title with the patient’s name, address and date of birth within the email
• Please advise the patient that the initial appointment will be for assessment and appropriate allocation within the dental hospital.

Post completed form to: Medical Records -UG referral, Dundee Dental Hospital, Park Place, Dundee, DD1 4HR

Alternatively email to: tay.healthrecordsreferralsddh@nhs.scot

Please also provide the patient with the patient information leaflet about treatment provided by dental students.