Information
Restorative Dentistry encompasses the following dental sub-specialties:
- Endodontics
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
It has an overarching role in the management of patients in which these dental sub-specialities interact and where patients require multi-faceted care.
The Department of Restorative Dentistry is based at the Edinburgh Dental Institute (EDI). The primary aim of the NHS Consultants and Specialists is to provide advice for General Dental Practitioners (GDPs), enabling them to manage their patients effectively within primary care. In addition, they offer specialist dental care for priority group patients (see referral guidelines), who cannot be managed by their GDP.
Through its links with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the University of Edinburgh (UoE), the Department of Restorative Dentistry also supports dentists undergoing postgraduate training. Depending on the educational requirement of our postgraduate trainees at the time of referral, we can sometimes offer assessment and treatment for patients who fall outside the defined priority groups.
As an NHS Hospital Dental Service (secondary care), treatment provided by the EDI is free of charge for patients.
Who can refer:
Referrals to the Department of Restorative Dentistry are accepted from General Dental Practitioners (GDPs). Consideration will be given to referrals from other primary and secondary health care professionals.
Who to refer:
The Department of Restorative Dentistry accepts referrals for adult patients (16 years and over) who fall into the following priority groups:
- Patients requiring oral rehabilitation following ablative surgery for head and neck cancer including those who have received oncological treatment other than surgery and requiring complex multidisciplinary rehabilitation.
- Patients with developmental conditions resulting in deformed or missing teeth.
- Patients who have suffered severe dento-facial trauma requiring multi-specialty input for effective rehabilitation.
- Patients requiring endodontic treatment rather than extraction because of an increased risk of osteonecrosis of the jaws due to intravenous bisphosphonate therapy or radiotherapy.
- Patients with periodontal disease which can be demonstrated as progressive despite appropriate cause related therapy and where modifiable risk factors have been controlled in line with national guidance.
This would usually include patients with stage II-IV disease who demonstrate a rapid rate of disease progression (Grade C)* and / or those with Molar-Incisor pattern disease. (Classification of Periodontal and Peri-implant Diseases and Conditions, 2017).
*Aggressive periodontitis (generalised or localised) under the previous periodontal classification system
We can only commit to assess patients who fall into these priority groups.
For all other patients, we may be able to offer an assessment appointment, however this is at our discretion and on a case by case basis. This decision may be influenced by the needs of our postgraduate trainees at the time of referral.
Please note:
- Active dental disease should be stabilised prior to referral where possible.
- For patients referred with periodontal disease, indicate the periodontal diagnosis (new classification) and give details of treatment performed and the response.
- Patients referred for dental implants must meet our implant acceptance criteria
Who not to refer:
The Department of Restorative Dentistry will not accept referrals for the following:
- Adults whose dental anxiety necessitates behavioural / pharmacological management beyond that provided in the General Dental Service (GDS). Referral should be made to the ‘Adult Dental Anxiety Management Service’ via SCI Gateway.
- Adults with severe or significant special care need(s). Referral should be made to ‘Special Care Dentistry’ via SCI Gateway.
- The management of primary dental disease. Please consider referral to the ‘School of Hygiene-Therapy’ via SCI Gateway.
- Assessment of dental implants not placed within the NHS.
- Second opinions on quality of care.
- Treatment in secondary care for financial reasons.
How to refer:
Referrals to the Department of Restorative Dentistry are accepted from General Dental Practitioners (GDPs). Consideration will be given to referrals from other primary and secondary health care professionals.
- GDPs providing NHS dentistry must refer to Restorative Dentistry via SCI Gateway. Any other route of referral will be rejected.
- If you are a primary / secondary care health professional without access to SCI Gateway, please download, complete and send the referral form.
- Please note that the secure transmission of emails containing patient information is the referrer’s responsibility
It will be expected that attempts to address the patient’s complaint have been made by the referring practitioner and details of treatment carried out included in the referral.
Referrals should be completed as fully as possible, with poorly completed forms risking rejection.
Relevant radiographs / periodontal charts / images should be included in your referral. These can be sent as an ‘attachment’ in SCI Gateway (maximum file size of 2MB, with a total attachment capacity of 5MB). If you are not registered with SCI Gateway, have images exceeding the file size or have relevant non digital images, please use an alternative option for the transfer of images.
Please note that although your patient may be accepted for an assessment appointment, this does not mean that they will be accepted for treatment, even if you request this and even if your patient falls into one of the priority groups. Please ensure that your patient is aware of this prior to making a referral.
Discharge criteria:
Patients whose treatment requirements are within the scope of a GDP will be returned with an appropriate treatment plan. Where aspects of a treatment plan are felt ‘specialist’ in nature, they may be delivered through the EDI, with the remainder of the plan delivered by the referring GDP.
On completion of treatment with the Department of Restorative Dentistry, the patient will be discharged back to the continuing care of their GDP.
Guidance on the standards of care for NHS-funded dental implant treatment
Prevention and Treatment of Periodontal Diseases in Primary Care (SDCEP)
Publications for professional use by the British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry
Quality guidelines for endodontic treatment (European Society of Endodontology)
