NORTH ESSEX — A new urgent dental care service has been launched across Suffolk and North East Essex as part of a national initiative to improve access to dental treatment.
Seventeen dental practices in the region have already begun offering the service, which is backed by £1.2 million in funding. An additional seven practices are expected to join the program soon.
The new appointments are available daily, including evenings, in Colchester, Felixstowe, Frinton, Hadleigh, Haverhill, Ipswich, Mildenhall, Newmarket, Stowmarket, and Sudbury. The service is open to both adults and children in need of immediate treatment or care within seven days.
Patients attending urgent care appointments will receive treatment for the immediate issue and be given guidance on how to maintain their oral health. Each appointment may involve a team that includes dentists, dental therapists, hygienists, and dental nurses.
If a patient requires continued care, they may be referred to another practice for follow-up treatment.
Peter Wightman, director for dental, pharmacy, optometry, and vaccination commissioning at the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), said the initiative builds on previous work to improve dental access.
“The new urgent care dental service brings additional high-quality, unscheduled dental care closer to home for local people,” Wightman said. “It strengthens our existing priority access and stabilisation service, which has already provided 12,452 appointments for people in pain and vulnerable groups since April last year.”
The ICB said the expansion aims to reduce pressure on emergency services while helping more patients get the care they need without long waits.
