Dentistry for those with physical disability

In order to receive dental treatment comfortably, patients with a physical disability may require specialist equipment such as a wheelchair recliner or bariatric dental chair which are available at some of our clinics.

Specialised dentistry for those with physical disabilities

All of our clinics are wheelchair friendly, however, it may be necessary to book an appointment at an alternative location in order to access specialist equipment.

Is this the right service for you?

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Equipment

Information for professionals

Meet our specially trained team

We work with patients and those involved in their care to ensure all treatment is carried out in a caring professional manner, with reasonable adjustments as required and in the best interest of the patient.

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Who will benefit from this service?

We offer a caring and compassionate environment for all of our patients. We build healthy relationships and work closely with our patients, carers and other health professionals, making reasonable adjustments to ensure we deliver the best services for everyone.

Community Dental Services are ONLY available to current patients and those who are referred by their dentist, or healthcare worker

To access our specialist services please be sure to contact your current dentist, or healthcare professional.

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When to use this service...

Do you or someone you care for have a physical disability preventing access to ground floor dental practices or may require specialist equipment in order to receive dental treatment?
Are you/they unable to weight bear or transfer to a dental chair?
Require a risk assessment and/or specialist equipment eg. Wheelchair recliner
Do you/they find it difficult to communicate with those around them? Would they be able to understand and consent to their dental treatment?
Do you/they require assistance to carry out and maintain oral hygiene?

You may be eligible to be treated by our service. We accept referrals from General Dental Practitioners and Health Care Professionals. Ask about being referred to us for your dental treatment.

Which Service is Right for you?

Use this simple tool to guide you to more information:

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The staff are always very helpful and put the patient at ease

– FFT Dental comments

I liked going in the chair, I was nervous about coming but the dentist and nurse made me feel happy

– FFT Dental comments

The care here is always perfect. The staff are kind and professional.

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– 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 has seven specialist sites across the county. For details and clinic opening times use the searchable map opposite or click 'Find our clinics'.

Find our clinics

Our services cover the following areas...

Physical Disability Learning Disability

Oral Health Education Mental Health

Domiciliary Care – ‘Home’ visits Socially Excluded

Dental Anxiety (Adult)Specialist Dental Care for Children

Medically Compromised

Which service is right for you?

Use this simple tool to guide you to more information:

Begin

How would you describe yourself or the patient?*
Please note that we can only talk to current and past patients. To be referred to the specialist Community Dentist service, please talk to your current dentist or healthcare professional. Find out how to find this here.
What age are you (or the patient)?
Do you have a specific medical condition?
Whatever your specialist needs are, for young people and children please see our specialist dentistry for children service
For those patients requiring specialist equipment please ask to referred to our medically compromised service. Find out more about our plus size service and equipment.
We have a specialised service operating for this. Please see dentistry for the Anxiety service
We have specialised staff and equipment to help mental health patients of all kinds. Please see dentistry for the mental health service
Specialist teams, equipment and clinics line under the title of dentistry for the physically disabled service
For those patients with dementia we have a special dementia friendly service
Are you or your patient socially excluded?
For example, homelessness, drug or alcohol dependency or any other way in which regular dental treatment is difficult.
We have a special service and clinics for those who are socially excluded. Find out more about this on our specialist dentistry for the socially excluded page.
Do you require dentistry at a specific location?
Home visits, along with referral requests can be found in our domiciliary service
Care homes. Patients living in care homes who are bed-bound or do not leave the home at all may be eligible for a domiciliary 'home' visit. Fin out more about our Domiciliary service
Schools > Children who attend special schools and find treatment at a regular dental practice difficult may be eligible for treatment with our service. You need our Education service
Have you heard about specific equipment / services?
wand > Both adults and children may benefit from the use of The Wand when having dental treatment. You need our Dental anxiety service for adults, or our Children's specialist dental care.
tipper > Wheelchair users and plus sized patients be more comfortable receiving treatment using a wheelchair recliner. You need our Physical disability service
Bariatric chair > Plus sized patients will be more comfortable receiving treatment in a bariatric dental chair. Read more about this facility: Bariactric Dental Chair
Other > Gloucestershire Community Dental Service are able to treat patients using specialist equipment making treatment more comfortable. You may look at our Medically Compromised service
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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.

Useful links

Dental Health

NHS -Tooth Decay

POhWER

Inclusion Gloucestershire

Community Dental Services are ONLY available to current patients and those who are referred by their dentist, or healthcare worker

To access our specialist services please be sure to contact your current dentist, or healthcare professional.

Find an NHS dentist