Advisory for primary care practitioners

As you know, NHS General Dental Practitioners are expected where appropriate to offer patients periodontal treatment through the NHS. Facilities for this can vary by location and over time and, given current flexibility of funding and commissioning, we would advise that you may wish to ensure that you are fully informed on arrangements in your area.

Consequently, we would suggest that practitioners who are unclear on this issue contact their local NHS commissioners and seek information on referral facilities/timescale. You should request that commissioning bodies keep you updated if there are any changes in these circumstances. This allows you to deliver accurate and contemporary information to patients.

If patients are not fully engaged with your care advice, you may wish to keep a detailed record of any advice given, and offer the patient a second clinical opinion, to ensure that the advice is being communicated well to the patient.

We hope that this advice is helpful.