Sometimes dental care involves more than one professional. Your dentist might refer you to a specialist for part of your treatment, while they continue to manage the rest. This is called shared care — and it's a structured way of making sure you get the best possible outcome.

Shared care means two or more dental professionals are involved in your treatment at the same time. Your general dentist remains your primary carer and coordinates the overall plan, while a specialist handles a specific aspect that falls outside their expertise — or that benefits from specialist input.

It's different from being referred and discharged. In shared care, your dentist stays involved throughout your treatment journey.

Dentists recognise when a case is beyond their own scope of training or experience. Rather than attempting treatment they're not best equipped for, they refer you to someone who has deeper expertise in that area.

Common reasons for shared care include:

• Complex root canal treatment (endodontist)
• Difficult extractions or wisdom teeth (oral surgeon)
• Orthodontics — braces or clear aligners (orthodontist)
• Gum disease that needs specialist management (periodontist)
• Dental implants (implantologist or oral surgeon)
• Jaw joint problems (TMJ specialist)
• Sedation or general anaesthetic for anxious patients

Your dentist refers you to the specialist with a letter detailing your history and what needs to be done. The specialist sees you, carries out their part of the treatment, and then writes back to your dentist with a full report.

Your dentist then continues with the rest of your care, incorporating any recommendations from the specialist. You move between the two — or more — professionals as needed, with your general dentist acting as the coordinator.

Shared care can involve NHS treatment, private treatment, or a mix of both. Your dentist should explain the costs clearly before referring you. If the specialist charges differently to your usual practice, you should know this in advance.

Always ask if you're unsure about costs. No one wants to be surprised by a bill.

Your dentist may have preferred specialists they work with regularly, but you can often request a specific provider. If you have a particular specialist in mind, mention it. Your dentist's referral letter can go to whoever you choose, as long as they're a registered dental professional.

Shared care exists because no single dentist can be an expert in everything. By involving specialists where needed, you get better outcomes than if one general dentist tried to handle everything themselves. Your dentist is not admitting failure by referring you — they're ensuring you get the best standard of care.

The best dental treatment is a team effort. You, your dentist, and your specialists all working together.