“We are working to reduce variation in the management of patients presenting with acute dental infections, particularly facial swellings.
In some cases, patients are being prescribed antibiotics and directed to seek further care elsewhere. This often results in patients re-entering the system or struggling to find a dentist independently. This creates additional pressure on services and, more importantly, delays treatment for the patient.
Wherever possible, urgent dental care should aim to resolve the presenting problem. This may be through extraction, pulp extirpation, or other appropriate interventions. Antibiotics should not be relied upon as the sole management unless there are clear clinical contraindications to immediate treatment.
If antibiotics are prescribed, the prescribing dentist should ensure that the patient is reviewed and that care is provided to address the underlying cause of infection at the earliest opportunity, to avoid repeated cycles of re-presentation and unnecessary burden on patients and the system.
When accepting a patient referral, a provider should be able to deliver the full scope of GDP urgent dental treatment. Dental therapists can be used to deliver urgent dental care whilst operating within their scope of practice but need readily available on-site support of a GDP to ensure tier 1 treatment can be carried out.
If a patient requires onward referral, completion of the referral documentation is expected to be part of the urgent care course of treatment.
Our shared aim is to deliver safe, effective, and efficient care to improve outcomes for patients.”
SW Urgent Care MCN
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