Complex dental treatment provided closer to home for patients

Patients can receive complex dental treatment closer to home as part of a service being piloted in Swansea Bay.

People who need more involved endodontic (root canal) treatment can undergo the procedure in a dental practice, rather than go to hospital.

The endodontic service has introduced a dentist with enhanced skills service.

The dentist can carry out the treatments in a local practice, reducing the need for patients to travel to hospital.

It is hoped that the role will help to streamline the service, while also ultimately reducing the waiting list for patients so they can receive treatment sooner.

Pictured: Dr Richard Amos and Mr Lyndon Meehan.

Patients are referred to the service by their own dentist.

Mr Lyndon Meehan, consultant in restorative dentistry and an endodontic specialist, said: “All patients are assessed and triaged by a restorative consultant and their treatment options discussed.

“If they are eligible, the patients can then be directed into the new service and can be treated by the dentist with enhanced skills instead.

“All patients are still under the overriding care of the hospital restorative department and their treatment is consultant-led but the difference is we can treat them in primary care, so they are seen more quickly.”

Common reasons for referral can be due to a need to repeat previous treatment, a history of dental trauma, or having complex root canal anatomy.

James Owens, clinical lead in restorative dentistry, said: “The new service provides care for patients who have complex root canal treatment needs.

“Nearly all root canal treatment is done in primary care but sometimes there are complexities involved which are inappropriate for a general dental practice.

“Normally, patients then have to go to a hospital restorative department for their treatment.

“We have received proof of concept funding for a dentist with enhanced skills in endodontics to provide this within primary care which will help prevent patients having to go to hospital.

“Dentists with enhanced skills have completed extra training and have extra qualifications to be able to do this type of treatment.”

A dentist with enhanced skills will have undergone additional extensive postgraduate training and have extra skills, experience and equipment in endodontics.

Dr Richard Amos, a partner at Willows Dental Practice in Swansea, obtained a master’s degree in endodontics and works as a dentist with enhanced skills for the health board.

“I undertake that role one day a week based at Port Talbot Resource Centre,” he said.

“Patients will be assessed at the Resource Centre and are then either treated there or at my practice in Swansea, depending on suitability.

“I have also worked within the restorative dentistry department in Morriston Hospital, where patients were referred by their dentists for root canal treatment.

“As a dentist with enhanced skills, I can manage more complex cases that have been referred to the service.

“We take on patients for their course of treatment and then discharge them back to their dental practice once completed.”

While patients are able to be seen closer to home, it also provides an opportunity for dentists to upskill so they too can carry out the complex treatments.

It is hoped that over time the service will include more dentists.

“The vision for the service is that over time if the pilot service is successful, it will develop and expand within the health board to have several dentists within enhanced skills,” James added.

“It is a good opportunity for general dentists working in primary care to be able to upskill.

“It would also provide a more convenient service for patients by reducing travel time and waiting time.”