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Hertfordshire Special Care Dental Service (HSCDS) is a community dental referral service for patients with additional needs. We offer a shared care approach with general dental practitioners (GDPs) and we treat Hertfordshire residents who are unable to access dental treatment from their GDP and meet our specific acceptance criteria.
We provide personalised, safe, high quality dental care for all our patients in a relaxed and non-threatening way.
Special care dental service information poster
Contact the service
Hertfordshire Special Care Dental Service Unit 10, Sandridge Business Centre Ronsons Way St Albans AL4 9XR
We have clinics in Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Cheshunt and Letchworth.
General enquiries: 01727 732051
We are also able to provide a domiciliary (home visit) service to those patients who are unable to access our clinics.
Home visits: 01727 732053Email : hct.hertsdentaladmin@nhs.net
“They really listen and will only do what you want them to do and if you want them to stop they will stop and explain everything so you really understand.”
“Just the best dentist ever!”
- Address: Hertfordshire Special Care Dental Service Unit 10, Sandridge Business Centre Ronsons Way St Albans AL4 9XR, St albans, AL4 9XR
- How the service is provided
- Who is eligible for the service
- What will happen at your appointment
- Useful information
- Making a referral
- Patient experience
How the service is provided
We are a referral service and have four clinics based at Watford, Letchworth, Hemel Hempstead and Cheshunt. All our experienced dentists and dental nurses aim to provide dentistry in a calm and non-threatening environment. We work hard to ensure that our patients feel safe and that they have a pleasant experience when they come to see us.
- We operate a general anaesthetic service at The Lister Hospital in Stevenage
- All our clinics offer inhalation sedation and IV sedation is available at Hemel Hempstead and Cheshunt clinics
- We offer Domiciliary dentistry for patients who are unable to leave their homes
- We provide school screenings at special needs schools.
- Our team of oral health educators are passionate about improving our patient’s oral health and work with patients, carers and families in our clinics and within our Domiciliary service.
You can watch a video of one of our team members providing oral health education here.
Our teams
The Hemel Team
“Thanks to the whole team for treating mum with the sedation, you will have made a real difference to her quality of life, now she won’t have any pain.”
The Watford team
“Thank you so much ladies. You were stars as usual today. I was so impressed last time. When I told my husband how good you were with * I was quite emotional and teary. You really understood about his autism. At other appointments we have attended not everyone is as understanding about autism.”
The Cheshunt team
“The communication between myself and the staff made me feel very relaxed and not afraid I enjoyed the experience.”
The Letchworth team
“Regarding my Dentist, She is without exception, the best Dentist that I have ever seen in my life. The work she has done has done on my teeth so far is absolutely brilliant, she explains everything so clear to me and she is so kind and caring.”
The GA team
"Everyone looked after * and myself so well, the team were so clever in the way they came up with ideas to make the whole experience as pleasant as possible."
The DOM team
“All the time you get phone calls to complain and needing emergency appointments, so I thought I would call today to say thank you. You have all been very helpful. You have relieved me from the pain. The service I received from you all is very good. I appreciate the way you have managed to see me and to talk to me over the phone.”
The Admin team
“Thank you to the whole dental team. The ladies in the admin office were very helpful and kind. The dentist who came to see me at home last year was fantastic. I really appreciate the treatment you have given to me today in the clinic. Thank you for explaining everything to me and for the care you have given me. You have been brilliant.”
Who is eligible for the service
- Patients with complex medical conditions who are unable to access treatment in General Dental Practice.(GDP)
- Patients with physical disabilities such as wheelchair users who are unable to access treatment in any GDP practice and who are unable to transfer to the dental chair without use of a hoist or specialist equipment
- Patients with a diagnosed moderate or severe learning disability which affects their ability to access routine care.
- Patients with a diagnosis of autism which affects their ability to access routine care.
- Patients with a diagnosis of a severe mental health condition.
- Plus size patients (up to 45 stone)
- Children (age 6 and under) with high levels of dental anxiety, high caries rate and a proven inability to accept treatment from a GDP.
- Children looked after (all ages until 16th birthday) with high levels of dental anxiety, high caries rate and a proven inability to accept treatment from a GDP.
- Adults with learning disability at a high risk of aspiration pneumonia can also be referred to our service for intensive oral health support
What will happen at your appointment
The initial appointment will be a telephone consultation with one of our experienced oral health nurses.
Following this, we will arrange appointments as appropriate for the patient in the clinic or as a home visit (domiciliary visit) if the patient is unable to access the clinic.
The dentist will ask you questions about your health and examine your teeth.
- With your permission, the dentist may take x-ray pictures of your teeth.
- The dentist will talk to you about your dental needs and agree a treatment plan with you that you are both happy with.
- The dentist will talk to you about your diet and how best to look after your teeth to minimise any future dental problems.
- The dental staff will make you a further appointment to begin your dental treatment if needed.
You may find the following social stories useful before your visit to the dentist.
The Marlowes Health and Wellbeing Centre (Hemel Hempstead) social story
The Peace Children's Centre (Watford) social story
Nevells Road Health Centre (Letchworth) social story
The Cheshunt Community Hospital social story
Useful information
Once patients have been referred into our service, we offer a personalised approach to their care. The initial appointment will be a telephone consultation with one of our experienced Oral Health nurses. This will enable us to discuss the steps we need to put in place to ensure that the patient has a positive experience when they visit us in the clinic.
Websites
The Oral Health Foundation is a charity dedicated to raising public awareness of dental and oral health and promoting good dental health practices
Have you heard of the Local Offer? If you are a young person with, or have a child with special educational needs and disabilities, (SEND) the Local Offer is Hertfordshire’s central source of information for SEND services and support.
Visit www.hertsdirect.org/localoffer for an easily accessible one stop shop.
Mouthcare Matters from Health Education England
http://www.mouthcarematters.hee.nhs.uk/
Purple Star Strategy health services for people with learning disabilities
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/adult-social-services/disability/learning-disabilities/my-health/purple-star-health-services-for-people-with-learning-disabilities.aspx
Healthwatch Hertfordshire independent voice for health and social care in Hertfordshire
https://www.healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk/
Making a referral
We encourage referral by General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) via the GDP referral process.
If you are a healthcare professional other than a GDP wanting to refer a patient to our service, we would ask you to confirm with the patient if they have a GDP, as we encourage referral via the GDP referral process.
If a patient does not currently have a GDP, where appropriate, please encourage the patient to access care from a local GDP (111 can provide a list of current NHS dentists).
If the patient meets acceptance criteria for our service but does not have a GDP/isn’t able to access a GDP please complete the Special Care Dental Service Health Care Professional Referral Formr . If you need further advice/information please contact us.
NB The Referral From is interim to be used while we are creating a digital format.
Patient experience
"Special care is right! You have treated me very specially today and you are all amazing."
It is very important to everyone in our service that people have a positive experience when they come to see us.
If you would like to share your story, please contact the Patient Experience team on 01707 388036 or email hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net.
We would also love to hear about your experience on our service; please complete our survey with your feedback.
