About us
Ordinary dental care delivered with extraordinary care in Suffolk and North-East Essex
The University of Suffolk Dental Community Interest Company is an innovative collaboration between the University of Suffolk and the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board.
The partnership seeks to provide high-quality NHS dental services and experiences to the population of Suffolk and North East Essex and supporting dental workforce training and education.
At the University of Suffolk Dental CIC we believe that everyone deserves to smile.
Children's dental care
Adult dental care
Oral health education
Access the service
How to access our services
To access NHS dental treatment through our service, adult patients are required to contact NHS 111 directly via telephone or their online service.
To access NHS dental treatment for children, you can find out more here.
For adult patients, NHS 111 will assist in providing a referral and confirmation of appointment before patients can attend our service. This streamlined process ensures that we can effectively prioritise individuals with dental needs to receive timely care.
We want to emphasise that our service will operate as follows:
- Strictly by appointment only
- We will not be able to accommodate walk-in patients
- Our operating hours will initially be Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5 pm
(Please note: these hours may be subject to change and this website will be updated accordingly.)
Our Mission
Ordinary dental care delivered with extraordinary care
Improving oral health outcomes, access, and experiences of local people and communities; delivering innovative and industry-leading oral health care care; supporting cutting edge education and training; with a multi-skilled dental team fit for the future.
By working together, we accomplish this – because we know when we all work together, we transform the world of oral health care, so it’s fit for a changing and modern world.
Our Vision
We will be recognised as a revolutionary and industry-leading Dental Social Enterprise and be a blueprint in enabling oral health care for a modern world. Acknowledged for our contributions to improving oral health and growing a sustainable multi-skilled dental workforce through cutting-edge education & training.
Your oral health, in your hands
At the University of Suffolk Dental Community Interest Company (CIC), we recognise that oral health extends beyond discomfort and self-consciousness— it can contribute to social anxiety and impact overall well-being.
A smile you’re proud of is a smile you will love.
In the UK, many people are not fully aware of the crucial role that good oral healthcare at home plays in maintaining a healthy smile and overall health.
When equipped with the right knowledge, everyone can make a significant impact to their own oral health. That’s where we can help.
Frequently asked questions
The University of Suffolk Dental CIC is a social enterprise. Like lots of services, including GP practices, we have a contract from the NHS to deliver oral health care services and work very closely with our partners at NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB.
We provide NHS oral health care to adults in Suffolk and North East Essex who can self-refer or be referred to us from NHS 111. Children can have direct access to book into our practice or are referred from other health care professionals.
Unlike with GP surgeries, people don't need to register with a dental practice to be seen. As a social enterprise we've been set-up to ensure that those most in need of dental care and who have no other means of accessing it, are able to be cared for. We are treating people most in need of our services who will initially be triaged by NHS 111, but patients can also self-refer.
Answer: As a social enterprise, it is our purpose to increase access to NHS oral health care for those in greatest need. We are targeting those greatest in need, but we can't solve the dentistry crisis ourselves. This is a small step in the right direction to help some of the most vulnerable people in society and help grow the dental workforce so more people are able to access NHS dental care they need.
The University of Suffolk Dental CIC is based in Ipswich in Suffolk.