For referring dentists · North Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire
I once thanked a patient for having a heart attack in my chair.
Not my finest moment. But in my defence, it did clear tomorrow's list and someone brought chocolate. He's fine, by the way. We called the ambulance. Knew we were out of our depth.
That's the whole page, really.
Knowing when you're out of your depth isn't a confidence problem. It's a clinical skill. One that takes longer to develop than any technique you'll ever learn.
My rule: if you're negotiating with yourself, refer.
What I want on the referral letter
Tooth number, your working diagnosis, and what you've already tried. A PA that actually shows the apex. If something's nagging that you can't quite name — say that too. It helps me triage.
What happens after you send it
I look at it the same day. You'll get a written report back after treatment — not a one-liner, an actual account of what I found and what I did. Your patient returns to you.
The cases I want
The retreatment with three previous attempts and a vague referral letter. The suspected crack nobody documented. The tooth that's been on a watch-and-wait list for four years because referring felt complicated. Those are the cases I get out of bed for.
Credentials, for what they're worth
Diploma in Endodontics. Approved Foundation Trainer, roughly ten years running. GDC 210844. Original research into tooth wear under-detection across 155 patients, presented at the DRMR Academy conference — published as a two-part CPD series with Dentistry CPD: part one and part two. Shortlisted for The Probe's Best Dentist and the Private Dentistry Awards' Best Practice Principal, both 2025 and 2026.
Further reading for referring GDPs
Navigating Referral Decisions in Dentistry: When to Keep or Pass the Baton
What to Tell Your Patient Before Referring for Endodontic Treatment
When Periodontal Disease Complicates Endodontic Treatment
The Post-Endodontic Restoration: Why It Matters as Much as the Root Canal
Send the film. I'll look at it the same day.
infodesk@drjbsmileclinic.co.uk · 01978 823490