Who can access?
All users of the National Health Service who are enrolled in a Group of Health Centres – ACES (health services made up of several functional units, which integrate one or more health centres) who have at least one dentist.
How can I access this consultation?
You should make an appointment with your family doctor, or attending physician, and ask for a referral for a dental consultation in primary health care.
Who can have dental appointments in primary health care?
There are no criteria for issuance. All users have access to referral to dentistry in primary health care, as long as there is such an offer in their Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde.
Are there priority patient groups and/or pathologies?
No. Since January 2017, under paragraph 6 of Order No. 8591-B/2016, there are no longer any pathology criteria for the issuance of referrals to dentistry in primary health care, and the project is now extended to all patients.
Why do I have to go to the family doctor first?
The first referral to dentistry in primary health care must be issued by your family doctor, or attending physician, so that all the clinical information available in your medical record is made available to the dentist.
Can the family doctor make an appointment with a dentist who belongs to another Group of Health Centers?
No. The family doctor can only refer you to the dental consultation of your Health Center Group.
Why is my health centre not included?
You may not have a dentist in your health centre, but you will have access to a dental consultation at the dentist if there is an appointment at another health centre in your Health Centre Group.
My GP did not make the referral to the dentist. Won't I have the right to a consultation?
To have access to dental consultation in primary health care, you will always have to have a referral issued by the attending doctor, if you do not have a family doctor assigned.
I don't have a family doctor. How can I take advantage of this consultation?
You must make an appointment with any attending physician at the health center.
I am displaced and not registered with the health center in the area where I live. How can I have an appointment with the dentist?
You must make an appointment with any doctor at the health centre in the area where you are displaced and ask for the referral to be issued. Even if you are not registered in the Group of Health Centers, a sporadic registration in the health center may be issued. In this case, the available doctor will refer you to dentistry, if there is an oral health office in activity in that Group of Health Centers.
I am in the Oral Cancer Early Intervention Program. Can I have a dentist appointment at my health centre?
Yes, you can. They are projects with different and complementary purposes.
How long do I have to wait until I have my appointment?
This period depends on the waiting list for the dental appointment, and there is no maximum waiting time.
I've used a dentist's check. Can I take advantage of the dental consultation at the health centre?
yes. Even if you have already used a dental check, you are entitled to a dental consultation at the health centre.
How many treatments and/or consultations am I entitled to?
You will be able to access the treatments considered necessary in clinical terms, excluding interventions of an aesthetic nature (such as tooth whitening, orthodontics, implants or crowns, among others).
In case of an urgent situation (broken tooth) can I have a priority consultation?
You should go to the health center requesting an urgent consultation, to be referred to the dentist. You can be evaluated by the SNS 24 nurse so that he can refer you to the most appropriate place.
And if you need more than one consultation. Do I always have to go to the family doctor or is it the dentist who schedules the following ones?
A referral to dentistry in primary health care gives access to the number of appointments needed to carry out the necessary treatments. From the first referral issued by the family doctor, the administrative assistant will issue the following referrals.
My GP referred me to the dentist, but I don't want to go. Can I refuse? And if after a while I want to go, can my doctor refer me again?
The referral to dentistry in primary health care is valid for one year. If you do not use the first referencing, you can ask the administrative assistant for the next one.
I've been to a dentist appointment at my health center, but I didn't like it. Can I go to another one?
Yes, as long as there is more than one dentist in the Health Center Group. Ask the technical assistant to issue a second reference.
I want to cancel the appointment at the dentist at my health center. How can I do it?
You should contact the health centre and cancel your appointment.
Do I have to pay a user fee? How much?
Currently, users can access oral health care through Primary Health Care, and in this context, consultations as well as all complementary diagnostic and therapeutic exams prescribed during these are exempt from paying user fees. However, within the scope of these consultations, treatment plans may be established and amounts corresponding to the stomatology table may be charged.
Source: Directorate-General for Health (DGS) and Central Administration of the Health System (ACSS)