A General Dental Clinic, which provides a full range of NHS dental care for everyone in the community, but includes Special Care Dental service for the following groups:
- Children and adults with learning disabilities
- Children and adults with mental health problems, who cannot be managed by a General Dental Practitioner (GDP). This includes people who exhibit challenging behaviour
- Children and adults, whare severely physically and/or medically compromised and cannot be treated by a GDP
- Phobic adults
- Frail elderly, especially in care homes or who are unable to leave their homes.
- Socially excluded groups e.g. homeless people or people with drug and alcohol problems.
- More complex cases can be referred for tertiary care at specialist centres
The special care dentist prefers referrals from health or social care professionals, but referrals from carers or patients themselves can be accepted if they satisfy the above criteria.