25/03/2026
*IMPORTANT NOTICE *
We are writing to update you about some important changes to NHS dentistry in Wales which will take effect from 1st April 2026.
At Compton House Dental Practice, we remain committed to providing NHS dental care and continuing to support our NHS patients. However, changes to the NHS dental contract mean that the way NHS dental services are delivered will be different going forward.
Under the new arrangements, dental practices will be required to see a significant number of new NHS patients who will be allocated through the Dental Access Portal (DAP), which is managed by the Local Health Board. In addition, practices must also provide appointments for new emergency dental patients referred through the Local Health Board’s In-Hours Access Service.
We expect that these requirements will take up a significant proportion of our NHS contract funding. Any remaining NHS capacity will then be used to provide care for our existing patients.
Some patients may notice a change to the frequency of their dental appointments. Patients with good oral health and low clinical risk may find that their recall interval is extended .
You will continue to maintain your relationship with our practice and will be seen in accordance with your clinically determined recall interval. If you experience a dental problem or require care between appointments, you will be able to access the treatment you need. Routine care will be subject to capacity and could involve a short waiting period; however, urgent dental care will always remain available.
We will continue to prioritise the following patient groups for routine recall appointments:
Patients experiencing a dental emergency
Children under 18 years of age
Patients with the greatest clinical need
All other patients, in line with their assessed recall interval and as capacity allows
Due to these changes, we have had to turn off our automated recall reminder booking system for NHS patients, including our NHS online booking service.
If you experience a dental emergency, please contact our reception team on 01656 864880, who will triage your problem and arrange an appropriate appointment if required.
If you are a parent or carer of children under 18 years of age and your child does not already have a future appointment booked, please contact the practice so that we can allocate an appropriate recall appointment.
If you receive a recall reminder during the coming year, please telephone the practice to arrange an appointment.
We would also encourage patients who wish to ensure ongoing access to NHS dental care to register with the Dental Access Portal (DAP). This may be the quickest way to access an NHS dental recall appointment. If you do register with DAP, you may be allocated an appointment either with us or with another NHS dental practice.
You can register with the Dental Access Portal at https://dhcw.nhs.wales/product-directory/our-digital-services/dental-access-portal/
For patients who would prefer the reassurance of regular routine dental care at our practice, we also offer dental plans starting from £9.95 per month. Further information is available on our website: https://www.pencoeddental.com
Alternatively, our reception team will be happy to discuss the options with you.
We appreciate that these changes may be concerning or frustrating. Please be assured that we remain committed to supporting our patients as best we can within the constraints of the new NHS dental contract, and we will update patients if further information becomes available.
Thank you for your understanding and for your continued support of Compton House Dental Practice.
Kind regards,
Anwen, India, Ioan, Irene, James, Nicola and Phoebe
Compton House Dental Practice
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