Our Services
Gloucestershire Community Dental Service provides a number of specialist services for patients who are unable to receive dental treatment at a regular family dental practice.
Welcome to Gloucestershire Community Dental Services
The specialist dental team aim to achieve optimal oral health so that patients with special care needs experience a healthy, functional and pain-free mouth. We provide practical support and guidance to patients, families, carers and other professionals, continually seeking to improve the patient experience.
Our specialist dental services cover the following areas...
Which service is right for you?
Use this simple tool to guide you to more information:
Begin
What people say about us
The following word-cloud was taken from feedback from our patients and their carers. The larger the word the more times it has been used in comments.
Information for professionals
If you are a general dental practitioner or healthcare professional, you can find out more about our criteria for referring patients in the section below.
Information for professionals
The role of the Community Dental Service has developed over the last few years and we are commissioned to provide special care dentistry for adults and children in Gloucestershire. We have a central system for all referrals, which are triaged by a senior clinician prior to being accepted onto the waiting list. Patients are then offered an appointment at a clinic that has appropriate facilities for their particular needs.
The Service is led by a specialist in special care dentistry, but patients will be booked with a dentist appropriate to their needs as identified within the referral. Patients should be informed they are being referred to the special care dental service.
Referral information
Referral criteria for patients varies per service.
You can request access for your patients using our online referral forms.
Information for both can be seen on our referral page.
When to use this service
Most patients are referred to our service for special care dentistry. Speak to your regular dentist, doctor or healthcare professional about any problems you are experiencing regarding your dental treatment or oral health. They will be able to advise you and if appropriate, refer you to our service for treatment. Alternatively check if you would benefit from one of our services by using the tool opposite.
Which service is right for you?
Use this simple tool to find further information about a service which may benefit you and how to seek a referral.
The Wand
The Wand is an injection system which replaces the traditional syringe. Using computerised technology the Wand delivers a supply of anaesthetic in a slow comfortable manner.
Panoral radiographs – dental X-ray
We provide a panoramic X-ray machine that takes a two dimensional image of the entire mouth. It is quicker to take than a traditional dental x-ray and the image is clearer and can benefit a lot of our patients.
Inhalation sedation
We are able to offer dental treatment with Inhalation Sedation for children and adults who experience dental anxiety. Patients are usually referred to our service by their dentist and must meet our acceptance criteria.
General anaesthetic
Very young children and patients with special needs may not be able to receive routine dental care such as extractions in the dental surgery in the normal way. It may be necessary for treatment to be performed under General Anaesthesia.
Wheelchair recliner
Patients who are unable to transfer to a dental chair and do not use a wheelchair which can be reclined, can be treated in surgery at our clinics in Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham.
Bariatric dental chair
It is important that patients feel comfortable and supported whilst receiving their dental treatment. We have bariatric facilities at our clinics in Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham.
I liked going in the chair, I was nervous about coming but the dentist and nurse made me feel happy
– FFT Dental comments
The staff are always very helpful and put the patient at ease
– FFT Dental comments
The care here is always perfect. The staff are kind and professional.
– FFT Dental comments
Brilliant care for my autistic son, they get him to accept such good tooth care. Amazing team!
– FFT Dental comments
Absolutely amazing A* all the way. Thank you for your awesome advice
– FFT Dental comments
Fantastic nurses, they put me at ease and explained what was going to happen in the appointment. I left feeling happy
– FFT Dental comments
How to find us
Gloucestershire Community Dental Service have seven specialist sites across the county. For details and clinic opening times use the searchable map opposite or click 'Find our clinics'.
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