Dental Services

NHS dental care can be complex and usually requires registration with an NHS General Dental Practitioner (GDP). 

Routine dental care 

Most routine dental treatments are provided by General Dental Services in High Street dental practices. 
To access this care, a patient must register with a GDP. 

Specialist dental care 

Patients requiring specialist treatment can be referred to the Public Dental Service (PDS) or Hospital Dental Service (HDS) by their general dental practitioner (GDP) or general medical practitioner (GMP). The PDS provides care for patients whose needs cannot be met in general practice, including those with complex medical, behavioural or social care requirements. 

Unregistered patients (for advice or emergency on-the-day appointment) 

• In hours (Mon–Fri, 8am–4:30pm): Call the Dental Helpline on 01292 616990 (no walk-in service) 
• Out of hours: Call NHS 24 on 111.

For more information: 

• Visit the NHS Inform Dental Health page for details on services and local GDPs. 
• Download the NHS Ayrshire & Arran Dental App or visit the NHS Ayrshire & Arran website.

The following conditions require emergency dental/medical care: 

• facial or oral trauma (including tooth avulsion) 
• significant and worsening facial swelling 
• uncontrolled post-extraction bleeding 
• dental infection causing systemic illness or fever 
• severe trismus (restricted mouth opening) 
• oral conditions that may worsen systemic medical conditions.

Important: A small percentage of dental problems are true emergencies. Patients should be assessed by a clinician within 60 minutes, with treatment provided promptly based on severity. During normal working hours: 

• Contact registered dental practice 
• Call the Dental Helpline: 01292 616990 (Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm) 

Out of hours: 

• Call NHS 24 on 111 (Mon–Thu, 6pm–8am; Fri 6pm–Mon 8am; weekends & public holidays)  

Conditions for GDP assessment

• Dental pain 
  • Registered patients: Contact their GDP for treatment, pain relief, or antibiotics. 
  • Unregistered patients: Register with a GDP or access the Emergency Dental Service. 
• Post-operative pain/infection: Return to the team who carried out the dental treatment. 
• Jaw problems (TMDs): See GDP guidance on temporomandibular disorders. 

Referral guidance 

• GDPs should refer oral problems requiring the PDS or Secondary Care directly to the appropriate dental specialty. 
• Existing SDCEP guidance covers management of patients who are: 
  • anticoagulated
  • at risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw 
  • requiring antibiotic prophylaxis. 

If a complaint is not dental in origin (e.g. sinusitis), GDPs may refer patients to GMPs.

If a patient presents to a GMP first: 

• Suspected oral cancer: Urgent referral to OMFS via SCI Gateway 
• Soft tissue/oral mucosal lesions: Refer to OMFS via SCI Gateway 
• Chronic facial pain (non-dental): Refer to OMFS via SCI Gateway 
• Unregistered patients with complex needs may be suitable for referral to PDS via SCI Gateway. Please see PDS referral guidance for more detail.