GDP Referrals — Endodontics & Restorative | Dr John Barclay | DRJB Smile Clinic Ruabon

Endodontic Referrals — Dr John Barclay | DRJB Smile Clinic, Ruabon

This page is for GDPs. If you have a case you're not sure about, or one you'd prefer a specialist to handle, this is where to start.

I'm John Barclay — GDC 210844. I work in Ruabon, North Wales, and accept endodontic referrals from practices across North Wales, Cheshire, and Shropshire. I teach endo nationally and treat the cases I teach others to recognise.

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Cases I accept

I'm happy to see a wide range of endodontic cases — including ones other practitioners have declined. If you're unsure whether a case is appropriate, contact me directly and I'll give you an honest answer.

• Primary root canal treatment — including complex anatomy (calcified canals, C-shaped systems, dilacerations)

• Retreatment — failed previous endo, separated instruments, persistent periapical pathology

• Apical surgery (apicectomy) — where orthograde retreatment is not possible or has failed

• Cracked tooth assessment and management — including cases where the diagnosis is unclear

• Complex vital pulp therapy — where preservation is still a realistic option

• Second opinion — if your patient wants independent clinical assessment before a decision

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How I work

Every case is treated under microscope — up to x24 magnification. I use in-house CBCT scanning for diagnosis and surgical planning, bioceramic sealers, and thermal obturation.

Your patient will receive a full written report after every appointment, copied to you. The report covers diagnosis, treatment completed, prognosis, and any restorative recommendations. I'll flag anything you need to act on.

I aim to return patients to you promptly. I am not a practice that converts referrals into long-term patients.

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What I need from you

A referral letter with the following makes triage faster and your patient's appointment more efficient:

• Presenting complaint and relevant history

• Pulp status assessment — vitality tests used and results

• Good quality periapical radiograph — ideally paralleling technique, taken within the last 6 months

• Any previous endodontic treatment history on the tooth

• Your provisional diagnosis and the outcome you're hoping for

If you've started treatment and want to refer partway through — that's fine. Tell me what you've done and what you found. Don't feel you need to have all the answers before you contact me.

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How to refer

Email: infodesk@drjbsmileclinic.co.uk

Phone: 01978 823490

Send your referral letter, radiographs, and any relevant images to the email above. Our team will contact your patient directly to arrange an appointment and will confirm receipt to you.

If the case is urgent or you want to discuss it before referring, email me directly and I'll respond the same day where possible.

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About Dr John Barclay

GDC 210844. Graduated Cardiff University 2011. I hold a special interest in endodontics and minimally invasive restorative dentistry. I'm a Dental Foundation Trainer for Wales and a lecturer in endodontics for HEIW, running both emergency endo protocol sessions and hands-on practical days for foundation dentist cohorts across North Wales.

I teach endodontics privately through DRJBEndoCourses.com — the same techniques and frameworks I apply clinically every day. Shortlisted for Best Dentist of the Year 2025 by The Probe.

I'm accessible. If you follow me on LinkedIn and have a clinical question, ask it there. I'd rather you contact me than refer blindly or extract unnecessarily.

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DRJB Smile Clinic | Kandy Lodge, Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6BT | 01978 823490 | infodesk@drjbsmileclinic.co.uk

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Restorative & Rehabilitation Referrals

If you have a patient who needs more than you can comfortably deliver — complex tooth wear, full mouth rehabilitation, heavily broken-down teeth, or restorative planning around implants — I'm happy to see them.

I approach rehabilitation conservatively. The goal is always to do as little as necessary to achieve a stable, functional, aesthetic result. I don't veneer teeth that don't need veneering. I don't extract teeth that can be saved. If a patient has been told they need extensive work elsewhere, a second opinion from me costs nothing and occasionally changes the plan significantly.

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Cases I accept

• Tooth wear — erosive, attritive, and abrasive. Diagnosis, stabilisation, and full rehabilitation planning

• Heavily broken-down teeth — where the restorability question needs answering before the GDP proceeds

• Full mouth rehabilitation — occlusal assessment, vertical dimension analysis, staged treatment planning

• Complex composite rehabilitation — direct aesthetic work where provisionality and planning matter

• Pre-implant restorative planning — where the restorative endpoint needs to be defined before surgery

• Aesthetic cases requiring a treatment plan before the patient commits — veneers, bonding, smile design

• Second opinion — patients who've been quoted extensive treatment and want an independent view

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How I work

I use a diagnostic-first approach. Every rehabilitation referral starts with a full assessment — occlusal records, study models, photographs, and where needed, CBCT. I won't recommend irreversible treatment without a clear diagnosis and a documented, agreed plan.

Where possible I use provisional restorations to test the outcome before committing to final restorations. Patients appreciate knowing what they're getting before the definitive work is placed.

As with endodontic referrals, you'll receive a full written report. If I recommend treatment your patient should have at your practice rather than mine, I'll say so.

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What I need from you

• Chief complaint — what the patient wants to change, not just the clinical problem

• Relevant medical and dental history, including any previous restorative work

• Full mouth photographs if available — even phone quality is useful

• Any previous treatment plans or quotes the patient has received

• Your own assessment — what you think the problem is and what you'd like me to address

You don't need to have a plan before you refer. That's what the assessment is for.

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How to refer

Email: infodesk@drjbsmileclinic.co.uk

Phone: 01978 823490

Same process as endodontic referrals — send what you have and we'll take it from there. If you want to discuss a case informally before committing to a referral, contact me directly on LinkedIn or by email.