Dentists
Dentists are responsible for good oral health.
Contents
Overview
Dentists are responsible for good oral health.
NHS dental care for children is free.
Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear.
The dentist can advise you on how to prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage.
Your dentist will let you know how often you should go for a check up and this will depend on your oral health.
If you have any problems with your mouth, teeth, or gums in between check-ups, it's important that you contact your dentist as soon as possible to book an appointment.
Support available
If a dentists is unable provide treatment to you due to a disability or medical condition, your dentist should refer you to a more specialised dental service.
Specialised dental services are commonly provided by community dental services.
For more information, see NHS South Tyneside and Sunderland: Dental services.
If you have any concerns around dental support for your child, we recommend contacting your dentist in the first instance.
Who can access the service
Anyone can visit a dentist.
Dentists carry out routine check-ups and may recommend further treatment. if needed.
Not all treatments are provided on the NHS. Your dentist will make clear which treatments are provided on the NHS, and which can only be provided privately.
How to access the service
You do not need to register to a dentist in the same way you do as a GP.
It is a good idea to register to make sure you get access to services, and for longer term treatment such as braces.
Once you've found a suitable dentist, simply call to see if there are any appointments available.
You can find a dentist at NHS: Find a dentist.