MADP Cover imageManagement of Acute Dental Problems

Published March 2013

'Management of Acute Dental Problems' is provided in three formats:

Full Guidance (pdf) - decision support flowcharts and further advice on the management of a range of clinical conditions.

Quick Reference Guide (pdf) - decision support flowcharts.

Web App - an interactive electronic version of the full guidance (best viewed with current browsers e.g. Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Internet Explorer 9 or later).

An offline version of the Web-App is also in development.  Details will be posted here.

Screenshot of the MADP web appBackground

Patients who have an acute dental problem seek care in a variety of settings. To encourage the consistent provision of safe and effective care that is tailored to each patient's needs, SDCEP has published new guidance entitled 'Management of Acute Dental Problems'. 

Based on the main presenting symptoms, Management of Acute Dental Problems provides decision support flowcharts, which can be used to identify any immediate attention or advice to give to the patient and to determine the appropriate provider of subsequent care. Further advice is also provided about the initial management and subsequent care for a wide variety of conditions that may present as acute dental problems. 

This guidance is intended for use by staff in any healthcare setting who may be asked to advise or manage patients with acute dental problems. This includes non-dental professionals, such as general medical practice, emergency department and pharmacy staff, as well as members of the dental team.  The Quick Reference Guide and Web App may be of particular interest to non-dental professionals.

Guidance Development

Management of Acute Dental Problems has been developed by a multidisciplinary group. This comprised dental and non-dental professionals with a role in the management of acute dental problems and patient representatives and was supported by members of SDCEP's Programme Development Team. The guidance is based on a review of available evidence and the opinion of experts and experienced practitioners and has been subject to open consultation and peer review prior to finalising for publication. 

Guidance Development Group
Name Details

Graham Ball (Chair)

Consultant in Dental Public Health, South East Scotland; Clinical Dental Lead, NHS 24

Martin Allan

Patient Partner, Healthcare Improvement Scotland

Duncan Campbell

Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, NHS Fife

Deborah Devlin

Lead Nurse - NHS 24 & Scottish Emergency Dental Service

Douglas Duncan

Assistant Clinical Director, NHS Lothian

David Felix

Postgraduate Dental Dean, NHS Education for Scotland; Consultant in Oral Medicine, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

James Ferguson

Consultant in Emergency Medicine, NHS Grampian

Abdul Haleem

General Dental Practitioner, Paisley; Dental Practice Advisor, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Tina Halford-McGuff

Patient Representative

Nicola Innes

Senior Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Dentistry, University of Dundee

Penny Lockwood

General Medical Practitioner, Dundee; Honorary Lecturer, Tayside Centre for General Practice, University of Dundee

John McAnaw

Head of Pharmacy, NHS 24

Margaret Madden

Out-of-hours Call Handler/Receptionist, NHS Lothian

Charles Maran

Specialist in Periodontics, Edinburgh Dental Institute

Avril Neilson

Consultant in Oral Surgery, Dundee Dental Hospital and School

Emma O'Keefe

Specialty Registrar in Dental Public Health, NHS Fife

Derek Richards

Consultant in Dental Public Health, South East Scotland

David Ricketts

Professor of Cariology & Conservative Dentistry, University of Dundee

Verena Toedtling

Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Specialist Registrar in Oral Surgery, University of Manchester

Richard Welbury

Professor of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Glasgow

 

SDCEP acknowledges the important contribution of all those who commented during the consultation and peer review stages.

A document providing further details about the evidence synthesis used to inform the development of 'Management of Acute Dental Problems' is available on request by email: scottishdental.cep@nes.scot.nhs.uk.

A review of the context of this guidance (regulations, legislation, trends in working practices and evidence) will take place three years after publication and, if this has changed significantly, the guidance will be updated accordingly. Meanwhile, the guidance may be subject to minor amendment if new information becomes available.

Page last edited: 28 March 2013