Access to NHS dental care continues to be one of the main issues we hear about from Reading locals but it's an issue that is also affecting people across the whole of the UK.
We've put together a Q&A to help you understand what is happening and what to do if you need an NHS dentist.
I am looking for an NHS dentist.
Currently, no dentists are accepting new NHS patients across Reading.
Many dental practices have very long waiting lists. You can join more than one dental waiting list.
Where can I check to find out if dentists are taking on NHS patients?
You can visit or phone local dental practices to see if they are taking on NHS patients.
You can also find a list of dentists taking on more patients on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services
You can also visit the Dental Choices website – this is not part of the NHS but also lists NHS dentists taking on new NHS patients to their waiting lists:
You can call NHS England’s Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 2233 and they may be able to help you find the nearest dentist accepting NHS patients, but you may be asked to travel some distance to get an appointment.
I have an urgent dental issue or emergency but no dentist, what do
I do now?
You can:
Phone NHS 111. They can book an emergency appointment for you.
Phone any local NHS dentist and ask if they can give you a one-off NHS dental appointment. It is not possible to request treatment by e-mail.
Book urgent or emergency dental appointments only with the dental practices listed below.
Booking yourself an urgent or emergency dental appointment:
These dental appointments are not for routine dental care/checkups. They are for urgent or emergency dental appointments with the dental practices listed below.
From 1st April if you do not have an NHS dentist and you fall under one of the groups below you will be able to book routine care/checkups, on-going treatment and urgent appointments:
Urgent Need
Clinically Vulnerable
Looked After Children
Extractions required before Orthodontic Treatment
Care Home Residents (who are able to travel to practice)
Expectant and nursing mothers
Armed Forces family members
Homeless patients
Asylum Seekers/Refugees
For further information on who these dental appointments are for, please click here.
There is only one dental practice offering this in the Reading area and the rest are outside Reading, but you can still attend these for your urgent/emergency care only. The practices have been given special funding to offer additional dental appointments.
Not all dentists offer these.
We advise that you phone the dental practices below as soon as they open each morning to book an appointment. Appointments get filled quickly.
Please mention Healthwatch Reading when booking your urgent or emergency dental care appointment.
Bespoke Dental Care/Gentle Dental Care, 6 Chapel Hill, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 5DG, 0118 945 2900 / 0118 945 5555
Smile Dental Care, 8-10 High Street, Twyford, RG10 9AE - 0118 832 1803
Winnersh Dental Practice, 410, Reading Road, Wokingham RG41 5EP - 0118 978 6385
Westwood Dental Practice, 29 London Road, Slough SL3 7RP - 01753 522091
Smile Dental Centre, 24 High Street, Slough, SL1 1EQ - 01753 523410
Moonlight Dental Surgery, Wentworth Avenue, Slough, SL2 2DG - 01753 526301
SC Dental Studio, 281 Farnham Road, Slough, SL2 1JF - 01753 550888
Cippenham Dental Practice, 424 Bath Road, Cippenham, SL1 6JA - 01753 577017
What is the Community Dental Service - can I use this service?
This service provides dental treatment for children and adults who cannot access treatment at general dental practices. Instead, dental services take place in hospitals, specialist health centres and mobile clinics, as well as home visits.
This could be because of needing specialist care, disability, learning difficulties, language barriers, phobias etc.
Some hospitals or health centres may be able to offer treatment under sedation or general anaesthetic.
You can find out more about community dental services, here or you can contact NHS England on 0300 311 2233.
What is Healthwatch Reading doing about the dental crisis?
We're in regular contact with NHS England - South East Dental and NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) to get the latest information on local dental services.
BOB ICB has responsibility for planning and funding NHS services for local people across Berkshire West, which includes Reading locals and dentistry services.
NHS England - South East Dental deliver the dentistry service to you and Reading locals.
Healthwatch Reading is an independent statutory body which means we have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision-makers listen to your feedback.
We ask locals to share their views, concerns and experiences on dentistry services. We then share your experiences anonymously with the teams mentioned above, and other local groups, so that they know the local issues, the impact of the crisis, and how to make change to local services.
Your feedback is also sent to our national body Healthwatch England and is used as evidence in debates and committee meetings with the UK government so that changes can be made to NHS dentistry across the UK. Click here to find out more.