Key resources

Leaflet resources

A parents’ guide to oral health and dental care for children with a learning disability, autism or both

Refer to this leaflet for information to ensure you are getting the very best dental care for your child.

Children’s Dental Treatment Under General Anaesthetic

This leaflet tells you about what you can expect when your child comes to hospital for dental treatment under general anaesthetic (whilst asleep).

Referral guidelines for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust Community Dental Service

This guide is intended to clarify the referral process and patient acceptance criteria for general dental practitioners (GDPs) and other health care professionals referring individuals to this service.

Oral health advice for parents and carers of autistic children and young people

The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD), the organisation of dentists and their teams who care for children’s teeth and gums, has assembled some oral health advice for parents and carers of autistic children and young people. This advice has been written to support neurodivergent children or those with additional sensory needs.

Useful websites

Autism Toothcare

One step at a time – a step-by-step guide to help autistic children with brushing their teeth

Better Health: Start for Life – How to take care of your baby of toddlers teeth

Information for once your baby’s first milk tooth breaks through and how to show them good dental hygiene.

Better Health: Healthier families

When it comes to eating well and being active, taking one small step after another can soon add up to make a big difference for your family.

BRUSH Toolkit

This page provides some example resources to help with the setting up, establishing and the continued running of the toothbrushing club including some resources to support the oral health messages being delivered in the setting.

Dental charges

For information on what sort of charges you may expect to pay for NHS Dental treatment.

Emergency dental information

For information on how to access an NHS dentist in an emergency or out of hours.

Mouth Cancer Foundation

The Mouth Cancer Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness, educating and promoting the early detection of mouth cancer as well as supporting those affected by it.

Patient Carer Advice Line: 01924 950950

NHS Dentistry

This website from the North East and North Cumbria NHS shares useful resources on how to find a routine dental service and how to get urgent dental care.

Oral Health Foundation

The Oral Health Foundation is a useful resource for finding out more about oral health prevention and advice, mouth problems and treatments and procedures.

Team Smile

Team Smile aims to raise awareness and promote a positive dental experience so that everyone, including adults and children with learning disabilities who often face extra barriers to care can maintain good oral health.