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Dental patients

King’s Dental Institute is a centre of excellence for dental care. You may have been referred to us for specialist assessment, treatment, or advice about a dental condition or injury.

We provide:

  • hospital-based services
  • community dental services in health centres across large parts of south London.

If you are referred to us, this does not guarantee that we will accept you for treatment. But we may be able to accept you for treatment if you meet one or more of the following requirements:

  • Your dental problem is so difficult to treat that you need a dentist with specialist training.
  • You have a medical condition or disability which makes it best for you to be treated in hospital.
  • Your dental problem is simpler but you agree to be treated by undergraduate or postgraduate students or other healthcare trainees, supervised by qualified dentists.

If you have been referred to us for a specialist opinion, you will then be treated by the dentist you are registered with.

Children’s appointments

We advise parents to attend the new patient appointment of children under 16. Alternatively, another responsible adult can attend the child’s first visit, but parents may have to attend further appointments.

All appointments

How do I change or cancel my appointment?

Call the Dental Waiting List Office on 020 3299 4988.

If you cannot make your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible – at least three days before – because we find it very difficult to fill cancelled appointments at short notice.

If you fail to attend an appointment without giving us notice, we will return your referral letter and you will need to be referred again by your dentist or GP.

What do I need to bring to my appointment?

Complete and bring with you the medical history questionnaire that comes with your appointment letter. Include details of any medicines or pills you are taking.

If you are taking warfarin, please bring your yellow INR book with you.

I need an interpreter or translator – how do I arrange one?

Please contact the Dental Waiting List Office on 020 3299 4988. Explain that you need an interpreter and they will arrange one for your first appointment.

For more information, visit our interpreting and translation service page.

What do I do when I arrive for my appointment?

Go to the clinic on your appointment letter and give your name and appointment letter to the receptionist.

Please help us by arriving for your appointment on time.

What will happen at my first appointment?

You are unlikely to have any treatment on your first visit.

One of our dentists will assess you to confirm your problems and to identify any special procedures you need.

How long will my appointment take?

Be prepared to spend two to three hours or more for all the investigations you may need, including x-rays where necessary.

If you already have x-ray films, please bring these with you. These will help us with your diagnosis and deciding how to treat your problem.

Will I be seen by a student?

We are a major dental education centre training. We train more than 900 clinical undergraduate and postgraduate students and dental care professionals each year.

Students take part in some of our clinics as a valuable part of their training. They help us to run clinics efficiently by:

  • confirming your medical history
  • taking notes on the problems you are having.

They will then introduce you to the senior dentist running the clinic.

Your other options