Salaried Primary Care Dental Services (SPCDS)

What we do

• Promote dental health
• Treat those who, for whatever reason, cannot obtain treatment from the general dental service
• Monitor the dental health of the population of Lothian
• Inspect selected populations for dental disease
• Provide general dental services, including specialist services, for those who cannot obtain this in independent practice
• Provide training for all members of the dental team, both pre and post qualification

People who receive dental treatment through the service

• Anyone with a physical or learning disability who has difficulty accessing care in general dental practice
• Anyone with a medically compromising condition who has difficulty accessing care in general dental practice
• Children whose families have difficulty accessing NHS care for them in general dental practice
• Any child whose family will not take them to the dentist
• Anyone with mental illness who has difficulty accessing care in general dental practice
• Any patient in hospital
• Anyone in a residential or nursing home who cannot access care from general dental practice
• Anyone whose fear of dentistry prevents them from seeking dental treatment
• Anyone referred, using the appropriate form by their doctor, dentist, health care worker, social service worker, or by a voluntary organisation

We work with other organisations and individuals to promote oral health. We do this by working alongside other professionals, with targeted groups of children, and adults with special needs to develop existing programmes, and maximise informal educational opportunities aiming to reduce levels of oral disease.