3 ways to find your local NHS Dentist

By Phone: Call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 and give them your postcode and they will tell you the contact details for your local dental practices.

By Internet: Go to www.nhs.uk, click on 'Dentist', type your postcode into the box and click 'Search'

This brings up the contact numbers for all the local dentists

By Text: Text the word 'dentist' to 64746

They will then text you back the contact details of the most local dentists to your current location (Your phone must have the internet function for this service to work).

If your child is aged 2 -16 and hasn’t visited a dentist in the last two years book a FREE appointment now* Call 0121 260 6385 or text DENTAL to 80800
or visit your local dental practice.

NHS dental charges

NHS dental charges are applied on a 3 band system and are set by the Government every year. As from 1st April 2011 they were:

• Band 1 course of treatment – £17.00
  This covers an examination, diagnosis (eg X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if needed, and application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant. If you require urgent care, even if your urgent treatment needs more than one appointment to complete, you will only need to pay one Band 1 charges
• Band 2 course of treatment – £47.00
  This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or if your dentist needs to take out one or more of your teeth.

• Band 3 course of treatment – £204.00
  This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures and bridges.

Exemptions: if you receive certain benefits, are aged 18 or under or are pregnant, you may be entitled to exemption from the charges. The dental staff will be able to give you details.

Personal dental service

If you find it difficult to use General Dental Services (family dentists), the Personal Dental Service has an agreement with the Birmingham PCTs to provide NHS dentistry for certain groups of people:

• Adults and children with special needs (examples: medically compromised, physical or learning disability, older people who are housebound, people with severe dental anxiety or phobia).
• Children without a dentist who are in pain
• Children with a high decay rate and limited co-operation or behavioural problems

Services provided include sedation, use of a wheelchair tipper or hoist, home visits, and a mobile service to special schools. Please contact the PDS office on 0121 255 0546.

Review of out-of-hours dental care

Have you ever used the out-of-hours dental helpline or service? If so we are currently reviewing this service and would like to hear your views.  Please click here to do our short, anonymous survey.

Specialist Special Care Dentistry Service

This is a Consultant led service provided across Birmingham on referral from other health professionals. It is for adults who need specialist dental care because of the most complex disability, medical or mental health problems. You can request your dentist, doctor or nurse to refer you. For further information please click here or contact the SCD office on 0121 465 5380.

• are at risk of endocarditis (heart valve infection)
• are having kidney dialysis
• are taking anti rejection or immune suppressant drugs
• are having / have had bisphosphonate injections (for bone disease)
• are starting /have had radiotherapy to your head or neck
• have a congenital bleeding disorder (eg. Haemophilia, Von Willebrands)
• have had an anaphylactic reaction to latex or other products used in dentistry
• have another serious incapacitating long term medical condition
• have severe mental health problems

If you are a healthcare professional and wish to refer a patient to the Special Care Dentistry Service, please click here for further information.