What can they offer support with? (For example – housing, debt, social opportunities)

Dental treatment for those with special needs

Who can use the service?

People with mental health problems and learning or physical disabilities

Details of what the service does or provides.

The Community Dental Service in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland provide a full range of dental treatment for patients of all ages who have difficulty in accessing general dental services (high street/family practice).

They aim to provide high quality dental care locally for patients with a wide range of special needs. This includes individuals who are medically compromised or have mental health issues; adults and children with severe learning disabilities or physical disabilities and children with behavioural management issues.

They also carry out oral health promotion and epidemiology and they work closely with education, social and other health care professionals.

Where patients have learning difficulty or cognitive impairment, inhalation sedation or intravenous sedation may be useful.

They carry out treatment under general anaesthesia in a hospital setting for young children or for adults with special needs.

They have specialist equipment such as wheelchair recliner, hoists and transfer aids.

The service will accept appropriate referrals for any person who lives in Gateshead, South Tyneside , Sunderland or under the care of a doctor/dentist within those areas.

Referrals should be made to our central office.

Contact details

Referrals Coordinator

The Galleries Health Centre

Washington Way

Washington

Tyne & Wear

NE38 7NQ

Tel:  0191 502 6754

Fax: 0191 502 6762