Who is eligible for treatment?
You will be eligible for treatment if you have:
- Suffered a dental injury (as a result of trauma) or if you require emergency intervention.
- Been referred by your dentist to our consultant staff for selected specialist care which is not available elsewhere
- Been assessed by our team of dentists as suitable for treatment by our undergraduate or postgraduate students.
Accident and Emergency Service
This service is limited to pain relief for people who have had a dental accident or who require emergency treatment to deal with bleeding, serious infection, visible swelling in or around the mouth or certain types of severe pain.
However, patients are advised to contact their own Dentist or Health Services Executive Dentist in the case of an emergency.
A dentist will determine whether the Accident and Emergency team will be able to provide treatment.
If you are accepted, the treatment you receive may only be temporary – sufficient to relieve the pain and prevent serious damage until you can attend your own Dentists or Health Services Executive Dentist.
The Accident and Emergency Service begins promptly at 8.45am and 1.45pm from Monday to Friday only. We strongly recommend that you arrive no later than these times.
We also provide an additional out of hours emergency service from 5.00pm to 10.00pm Monday to Friday and on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 9.00am to 10.00pm. Additional Accident & Emergency Services are available outside of these hours. To contact this service telephone 01 6127200 for further information or consult the information leaflet for “Patients seeking Accident & Emergency Care”.
If your problem is not a dental emergency, you will not receive treatment.
Accident and Emergency fees do apply and must be paid in advance.
Specialist Care
The Dublin Dental University Hospital is a centre of excellence for patients who require specialist advanced care not generally available elsewhere.
All referrals must be by letter from your own dentist. Waiting lists are in operation for all such referrals.
Referrals to Paediatric Dentistry are not being accepted until further notice.
Students may be present during your visit to our specialist clinics. On some specialist clinics students will complete your initial examination and provide your treatment under supervision.
Charges will be applied for consultations and treatment provided in specialist clinics.
For some specialist care services a referral letter may be required, click here for our referral letters.
Student Clinics
The training of the student dentists is a primary function of this Hospital. If you are receiving treatment by a student you are undertaking a commitment to the student to be available to receive treatment.
Your dental care provided by a dental student will take longer than would be the case in general practice. This will include longer treatment times and more appointment dates.
In most cases students must achieve the clinical credits necessary for their training and subsequent qualification and unfortunately failure to attend appointments may result in the student losing important clinical credits.
Qualified dentists, closely supervise all student treatment procedures.
If you are under treatment with a dental student and need to contact them you can phone our automated messaging service on 01 6127376 and leave your name, contact number and the name of your student and we will forward your message to them.
Patient Information
We will advise you of the name of the dentist under whose care you are being placed. We will also explain the nature of your condition in non-technical language.
The Hospital is unable to provide any second opinions and we regret we cannot recommend any dentists or other dental services.
In order to maintain our patient data base and to ensure that we have accurate contact information the receptionist will ask you to confirm that your contact details are correct i.e. address/telephone/e-mail at each visit.
The Hospital also use e-mail and text messaging as forms of communication with patients.
Basic Dental Care for Undergraduate Dental Students Under Supervision
If you require basic dental care and would like to be considered please see the information below:
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This waiting list is for screening patients who require basic dental care only and would like to receive screening to determine their eligibility for treatment with our Undergraduate Students under supervision
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You must be aged 16 or over
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You do not need a referral but can self register by providing your name, address, date of birth and telephone number you can email these details to patient@dental.tcd.ie and quote “UGTA waiting list”.
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There is a waiting list for screening and waiting times vary but waiting time is expected to be over 3 months or longer.
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This service does not include a pathway to any specialist care or services for e.g. implants, orthodontics, advanced prosthodontic treatments etc.
If accepted for treatment the following apply:
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Waiting lists for treatment are in operation and waiting times vary
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Patients are allocated to the student and the appropriate year based on the patient treatment needs, not the patients requests.
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Treatment takes much longer i.e. longer appointment times and more visits than would be the case in private practice. Each appointment will be a minimum 3 hour period and you must be available to stay for the full duration of the appointment. Delays may occur
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The role of the supervisor is only to guide and supervisor the student, the student will provide the actual treatment.
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There is no flexibility when offered appointments and subsequent appointments will be on the same days.
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Clinics only operate during the college academic term
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Patients who present late for appointments will not be treated and will be discharged from our care
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Patients who fail to attend or intermittently attend appointments will be discharged from our care.
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Normal arrangements about fees apply see our website for more information
Informed consent
Treatment will only be undertaken with your informed consent. The consent form you sign will state clearly the nature of the procedures to be undertaken.
In the case of a child (i.e. under 16 years), the written consent of a parent or guardian will be required.
Patient Confidentiality
You have the right to confidentiality in respect of your dental records.
If you wish to see your dental records at your appointment should discuss this with your dentist/student/supervisor.
If you require a copy of your dental records or x-rays (charges may apply) by email or by post, please click here.
As a public institution the Dublin Dental University Hospital is bound by the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts. The Hospital protects your personal data in accordance with these Acts and will not share your data with any third party companies, except those involved in the delivery of our service to you.
We may need to refer you to your own dentist to have some aspects of your dental care completed before we start a treatment plan for you. You must be registered with your own dentist or a Health Services Executive dentist to whom we will discharge you when your treatment is completed.
Your own or a Health Services Executive dentist is responsible for the maintenance of the treatment we carry out and any future treatment.
We will liaise with your own dentist and provide advice as appropriate.
Special needs
Our staff and students are conscious of, and highly committed to, addressing the special needs of our patients. If you have a special need, please make it known on arrival to a member of staff.
Courtesy
You have a right to be treated courteously at all times by our staff and students. However, we would also ask that you respect our staff and students at all times.
Please switch off mobile phones whilst receiving treatment or in clinical areas.
CCTV is in operation in the Hospital for the safety of our patients, staff and students.