Description

For patients suffering from dental pain or who require emergency dental treatment, there are a number of different centres where they can seek advice or treatment. The clinics where they would choose to seek dental attention depend on a complex combination of their location, the availability of local dental services, their knowledge and experience of these services and whether they are registered with a general dental practitioner (GDP). Many people do seek care from a GDP, frequently their regular GDP with whom they are registered. Those who are not registered have to rely on other alternative services such as acute dental care units (ADC) in dental hospitals access centres or emergency dental clinics within the community dental service (CDS).

Treatment for regular dental attendees should be provided according to the agreed clinical pathways and referrals from NHS Direct, medical practitioners and other healthcare professionals.1 ADC units in teaching dental hospitals offer an emergency dental service that is accessible to all regardless of whether they are registered with a GDP or not. Patients presenting at these ADC units are also an important resource for the training of future dentists in the UK and are not charged a fee for their treatment.

It is no surprise to many dentists that have worked or are currently working in ADC units to find that the number of patients attending for emergency dental treatment can occasionally be overwhelming. The increasing demand for services can impose challenges for these units and effective strategies have to be employed to cope with this. In addition, the issue of waiting times has been highlighted. ADC units that are classed as an Accident and Emergency (A&E) care unit share the government set target that requires patient to be seen, treated and discharged within four hours. This Requirement was introduced in February 2004 and undoubtedly has created another significant challenge to the operation and management of the ADC units.

There seems to be little communication between ADC units nationwide and therefore any common difficulties or successes are not highlighted or made available for others to benefit. This survey is designed to describe the organisation of management, staffing, funding and departmental activity levels of adult acute dental care units within dental hospitals in England, Scotland and Wales.