The Scottish Dental Reference Service (SDRS) is made up of a small team of independent dentists who help to monitor the standard and quality of NHS dental treatment.
This is done by inspecting the patient's mouth, either before extensive work is carried out or after they have received treatment.
Every year the Dental Reference Officers (DRO) examine a number of patients, chosen at random, from every NHS dentist.
We are currently modernising the SDRS, with new codes replacing the grades on 1 August 2009. This is not just a cosmetic or wording change. It allows the findings to be used for the purpose they were intended, to clearly highlight problems so they can be resolved.
Additionally the new codes separate clinical problems from prior approval violations and clerical errors. A copy of the explanation will go out with each report.
Agreement has also been reached so that the majority of DRO examinations now take place in NHS Board premises, with Boards supplying a dental nurse.
This also gives the opportunity to dental services managers with many salaried practitioners, to seek additional DRO examinations to fulfil the Boards' clinical governance and liability responsibilities as an employer. A new form, in portable document format (PDF), giving objective rather than subjective information will be evaluated in September/October 2009. It will also create greater consistency and should permit Boards to pick up details in spreadsheets without reading through lots of narrative.
For pre-treatment cases, the DRO reports on the necessity of the treatment and the appropriateness of the dentist's treatment plan; sometimes making alternative suggestions if the original plan is not considered appropriate.
Post treatment referrals are selected on a random basis or where our Dental Advisers have a concern over the treatment claimed.
If you have a query on a DRO report, please contact our Helpdesk. Should you wish to discuss your report, your initial contact should be the Dental Reference Officer at the Scottish Dental Reference Service. If you are still unhappy after this, you should contact our Senior Dental Adviser to discuss your concerns.
Patients
We continue to review and improve communication with patients and dentists in relation to this service, and to encourage patients to attend for examination when asked. The changes to the reporting is to provide a reference service that is fit for purpose in the 21st Century and that it is fair on patients, to the dentist and gives Practitioner Services, the Health Board, the Scottish Dental Practice Board and the Scottish Health Directorate a much more comprehensive and accurate assessment of the Dental Reference Officer’s findings.
We are now providing patients with more flexible appointments, in order to increase the numbers being examined by the Dental Reference Officers.
We would appreciate if you could draw your patient’s attention to the declaration on the GP17 form, which stipulates that attendance at the Scottish Dental Reference Service may be required.
Highlighting this with patients would allow the optimum use of the Dental Reference Officers time and that of their support staff.
If you're looking for information about dentists and the NHS services they provide, visit the Public section of this web site.