NHS & Private Dental Care
UPDATED 03/09/2024:
Both new NHS and private patient registrations have been severely impacted since the pandemic, however, we are currently able to take on new NHS patients as our capacity allows.
The continuing overwhelming demand for access and the limits to appointment availability means that it may take longer for you to be seen.
TEXT MESSAGE REMINDER SERVICE
In order to reduce touch and transmission points within the surgery and our aim to become more environmentally friendly by reducing our reliance on paper, we have updated our patient text message appointment reminder service to include links so that Medical History, Covid assessment and NHS Patient Declaration forms can be completed online on your mobile devices. The information will then be directly uploaded to your patient records helping to reduce our reliance on paper and make your visit to the practice more efficient. It is important to keep your contact details up to date and inform us of any changes. Please note the text message reminder service is not a booking confirmation service so please make a note of your appointments in your calendar and do not rely solely on the text message service. The practice accepts no liability for incorrectly completed NHS declaration forms nor do we accept liability for failed to attend appointments due to patients not receiving a text reminder.
We are open and are operating to the highest safety and infection control levels. We are here for all your dental needs including emergencies and treatments.
At Thames Dental Surgery the most important thing is patient and staff safety and comfort, and that is why we have introduced measures to keep our patients and staff SAFER than ever including a bespoke ventilation system.
The Practice as you are aware was always a very clean and safe environment. In addition to our previous measures, we have placed hand sanitisers at entry points, upgraded our PPE and redesigned the patient journey in line with social distancing.
We prefer to book your appointments by telephone to ensure that the Practice doesn't become overcrowded. To prevent overcrowding we are leaving suitable gaps between appointments and we ask that where possible please travel to the Practice alone. There is limited facility for companions to attend with patients unless patients are from a vulnerable group. We will ask that you pay using a contactless card where possible. This crucial step greatly reduces touch points at the practice.
Between all appointments, as always, the dental team will thoroughly disinfect the dental surgery, reducing the risk of exposure to anything harmful while you are in our dental chair in line with PHE and NHS England guidelines.
If you wish to book an appointment to speak to a dentist in an emergency please telephone the surgery during normal practice hours. Please note we cannot arrange appointments by email.
Please be assured that we will deliver your dental care to the highest standards.
About Us
Thames Dental Surgery is a mixed NHS/Private dental practice in Leigh-on-sea, Essex. The practice is friendly family orientated practice.
NHS Care
We offer NHS dental care and is delivered under the NHS Band 1 (£26.80), 2 (£73.50)or 3 (£319.10) dependant on the treatment you need to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy.
Private Care
We offer a wide range of Private dental care to provide you with the best possible care. We now offer Invisalign Go, contact the surgery to arrange a consultation.
Dental Hygienist
Dental hygiene treatment involves professionally cleaning the teeth for the patient. Please ask for details regarding Air Polish treatment. We are also now able to book dental hygiene appointments under direct access. Our hygienist is available for appointments on Mondays and Fridays
Dental Emergencies and Dental Pain
URGENT DENTAL TREATMENT:
- Facial swelling extending to eye or neck.
- Bleeding following an extraction that does not stop after 20 minutes solid pressure with a gauze/clean hankie. A small amount of oozing is normal, just like a graze.
- Bleeding due to trauma.
- Tooth broken and causing pain, or tooth fallen out.
- Significant toothache preventing sleep, eating, associated with significant swelling, or fever that cannot be managed with painkillers.
STRAIGHT TO A&E:
- Facial swelling affecting your vision or breathing, preventing mouth opening more than 2 finger's width.
- Trauma causing loss of consciousness, double vision or vomiting.
Please see our page on Tooth Pain for more information
We now offer Invisalign Treatment and Whitening treatments
Contact us today to arrange an Invisalign consultation.
We offer both In-Surgery and At-Home Whitening to restore your teeth to give you a brighter smile. All our whitening products are EU compliant and custom made personalised mouth trays are included.
Same day appointments available
Boutique Whitening from £299
CORONAVIRUS-COVID-19 UPDATE
Access to NHS emergency dental care can be received at any NHS dental practice that has the capacity to see you, including our practice. We will try to accommodate patients previously not seen at the practice with urgent needs. Emergency appointments are booked depending upon the availability of appointments. The availability of appointments is very limited due to the immense demand for appointments.
Patients can find out the local high-risk dental centre by calling NHS 111 where special facilities including full personal protective equipment have been set up.
High risk patients include:
• ALL Patients with confirmed Coronavirus infection
• Patients who are or should be self-isolating
• Anyone who has a new and continuous cough, loss or change of sense of smell or taste, sore throat, or a temperature of at least 37.8 degrees centigrade, headaches, runny nose, shortness of breath, feeling tired or exhausted, aching body, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick and fever.
• Immunocompromised patients- those with low immunity
• Those that have been in contact with a known carrier or infectious individual
Please call on 01702478494 between the hours of 9am-1pm & 2pm-5pm Monday-Friday and a member of the reception team will arrange for an appointment with the duty dentist. Please do not email the surgery in relation to appointment bookings.
If you have travelled abroad in the last 14 days or been in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus or have been asked to self-isolate please check the government's gov.uk website for the latest COVID-19 advice, you may need to call NHS 111 for further advice before making or attending your appointment. If you have COUGH, FEVER or SHORTNESS OF BREATH symptoms, to protect yourself and others please call NHS 111 for expert advice and do not enter the dental practice building. Find out more at nhs.uk/coronavirus
Check online at gov.uk and at nhs.uk for advice and the latest COVID-19 information.