The NHS "Find a Dentist" webpage can help identify practices in your areas which are taking on NHS patients.

At present, the number of practices taking on NHS is limited.

NHS Devon does not hold information on practices who are currently accepting new patients.

Each practice updates their own information on the NHS website.

For access to urgent dental care, please contact NHS 111.

Dental practices are independent businesses, often providing a combination of NHS and private dentistry.

Patients are not registered with a dentist in the same way they are with a General Practitioner (Doctor), and individuals can access services at a dental practice located in any area if the practice is accepting new patients.

When you attend an NHS dental appointment, the dental practice should provide care during that course of treatment. Once that course of treatment is completed, the practice should then allocate appointments to those of greatest need. Therefore, it may be that you would not be allocated another check-up with that practice.

Dental practices are independent businesses, and most offer both NHS and private treatment.

If you think you need urgent dental care, you should contact your usual dentist. Some surgeries offer emergency appointments and will provide care if it’s necessary.

If they don’t offer emergency appointments, or you don’t have a regular dentist, you can call NHS 111. They will put you in touch with an urgent dental service.

Before any treatment is started, you will be asked to sign a personal dental plan. This will explain the NHS treatment the dentist is going to carry out and the cost.

If any private treatment has been discussed, this cost will be listed separately. NHS dentists provide all treatment that the NHS dentist feels is clinically necessary to keep teeth, gums, and mouth healthy.

Additional information on dental costs can be found at How much will I pay for NHS dental treatment? - NHS

Specialist community dental services are available for people who may not be able to attend a general dental practice.

These include people with various mental, medical and physical needs – for instance:

• children with extensive untreated tooth decay who are particularly anxious
• children in foster homes or residential care, or on the ‘at risk’ register
• people with physical or learning disabilities, medical conditions or mental health problems
• children referred for specific treatment
• adults with complex needs who have difficulty accessing general dental services, including adults with moderate and severe learning and physical disabilities or
• housebound and homeless people.

In Devon this service is provided by the Salaried Dental Service (Exeter), Plymouth Community Dental Service and Torbay Community Dental Service.

You do not have to pay for NHS dental services if you’re:

• under 18, or under 19 and in full-time education
• pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
• being treated in an NHS hospital and your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist
• receiving low-income benefits, or you’re under 20 and a dependant of someone receiving low-income benefits.

Find out more about dental costs and free treatment.

Specialist community dental services are available for people who may not be able to attend a general dental practice.

In Devon this service is provided by the Salaried Dental Service (Exeter), Plymouth Community Dental Service and Torbay Community Dental Service.

Currently, there is no system in place for assigning members of the public to an NHS dentist. Each practice manages its own availability and is required to publish it on the NHS Find a Dentist site. While some dental practices maintain waiting lists, this is not mandatory.

If you cannot find a local NHS dentist and have an urgent dental need, please contact 111.

The NHS 111 health advisor will assess your situation, and if you have a clinical need for urgent treatment, they will help you access an urgent dental care service. If the issue is not assessed to be urgent, you will be directed to another NHS dental practice and/or given self-care advice until you can get an appointment.

If you have an urgent dental need, please contact 111.

No, the cost of treatment undertaken in NHS out-of-hours services is the same as the cost during normal working hours.

NHS dental treatment is free for anyone under 18 or under 19 and in full-time education.

Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear.

When your child visits a dentist they will advise on how frequently to visit.