If you have any dental or mouth pain or something in your mouth you are unsure about, call the dentist you’re registered with. The team will advise you about the options available and guide you to make sure you get the right treatment.
If you are not registered with a dentist and need advice or an emergency appointment, please call the dental helpline on 01292 616990. The helpline is available from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
To find out more about what services your dentist can provide, visit the Dental health page on NHS Inform.
For a list of NHS dentists in your area, please call 01292 616990. You can also call this number for urgent care or advice.
View our list of dental practices that are currently accepting new patients.
For out-of-hours dental emergencies, please call NHS 24 on 111.
Oral Health Improvement & Childsmile Teams
Our goal is to bring about positive changes in oral health across Ayrshire and Arran.
Together, we aim to provide the best possible oral health care and advice for all ages.
Who we work with
- the Public Dental Service
- nurseries
- schools
- health professionals
- community organisations
What we offer
- oral health information and advice
- signposting to dental services
- oral health talks and promotional stalls for businesses and community events
- free oral health training packages for professionals in health, social care, and voluntary sectors
- lending of oral health resources
Free oral health training
Our training packages are for professionals in health, social care, and voluntary sectors.
They help you:
- raise awareness of oral health
- increase knowledge of oral health issues
- build confidence in promoting good oral health practices
- assist people in accessing dental services
For more information on our training packages please email: oralhealthimprovementteam@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Childsmile
The Childsmile team works closely with health visitors, dental teams, education, community groups, and other partners to support families within local communities.
For more information on the national programme, visit the Childsmile website.
The Childsmile Community and Practice Programme
The Childsmile Community and Practice Programme is designed to address oral health inequalities by embedding support workers within communities and offering oral health support to families with young children in the family home.
The Childsmile Nursery and School Programmes
The Childsmile Nursery and School Programmes work closely with education staff and school nurses to deliver the national Toothbrushing Programme in:
- nursery schools
- primary schools
- Additional Support Needs (ASN) schools
In addition, we provide the national Childsmile Fluoride Varnish Programme in all ASN schools and designated primary schools across Ayrshire and Arran.
Taking care of your oral health
To find out more about taking care of your oral health, visit the Dental health section of NHS Inform.
Visit our mouth cancer section to learn about mouth cancer, including:
- how mouth cancer is treated
- what to look out for
- how to reduce the risk of mouth cancer developing
Read the Keep Smiling Leaflet from Public Health Scotland for support in maintaining and improving your oral health.
Contact us
- Oral Health Improvement Team: 01292 616980, oralhealthimprovementteam@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
- Childsmile Team: 01292 616980, childsmileteam@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Follow us on social media:
- Facebook: @AyrshireandArranOHI
- Twitter: @NHSOHI
- Instagram: @nhsaaohi
For the latest information on our services, please download the NHS Ayrshire & Arran app, then search within the app for Dental.