The Essex Local Dental Committee
Referral pathways for dentists in Essex
Local Referral Pathways
Please see below for information on how to refer your patients for Advanced Care. This list is non exhaustive and compiled to the best of our knowledge. For potential further referral options to the bigger London hospitals for example please get in touch with them directly.
Community Dental Services
Information about how to refer to the local Community Dental Service can be found here.
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To learn how to refer appropriate patients into the Community Dental Service, access the webinar on our YouTube channel.
Minor Oral Surgery
Dental Trauma
The trauma pathway has been designed to provide the best care for patients who suffer dental trauma that is outside the capability of primary care practitioners and junior staff at A&E (e.g. de-gloving/ex and intrusion/avulsion/ alveolar fractures, etc.).
The number to ring is 0333 240 1311 which is answered by a senior clinical triager who will decide the best referral route across the Eastern Region.
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The Trauma algorithm can be found here.
Restorative Referrals - Perio and Endo.
Please note this pilot has been discontinued since April 2024
NHS England and NHS Improvement – East of England have set up a Level 2 Endodontic and Periodontic NHS dental service that will serve patient populations via 6 STP areas in the East of England (Mid & South Essex, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire & West Essex, Norfolk & Waveney, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and Suffolk and North East Essex). The Restorative Dentistry Managed Clinical Network (MCN) will be working in triangulation with NHSE and the Referral Management Service (dental-referrals.org) to support patients being referred to the most appropriate clinical service. The RMS will control the flow of referrals and signpost patients to the closest provider to the patients address. Please send referrals via the same online referral service that is used for oral surgery:
Please follow the links below for further information:
TMJD Information and Referrals
Please click on this link to access a pdf document with advice and information to help manage patients suffering with TMJD in primary care.
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Facial Pain Referrals
Please click on this link to access information about the Eastman multidisciplinary facial pain service including their referral form and contact information.
Level 2 Orthodontic Referrals
Please get in touch with your local orthodontic provider to find out about their referral protocol.
Level 3 Orthodontic Referrals
The referral form for advanced / level 3 orthodontic services is accessible via this link. Upon completion, the form must to be emailed to mie-tr.MERC@nhs.net from a nhs.net email address or posted to Broomfield Hospital.
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Last update 20th July 2023. Review date 19th July 2025
