Patients rights
Will there be anything else to pay?
Some plans charge separately for any treatment that involves laboratory costs. For example: you may have to pay the laboratory fee for a crown, or you may have to pay for the entire crown. This should be explained when you join the plan to avoid confusion.


What treatment am I entitled to?
If you are registered with an NHS dental practice your dentist must offer you any treatment needed to make you ‘orally fit’. In other words, your mouth should be free from disease at the end of the course of treatment.

Some cosmetic treatments are not available on the NHS because they are not necessary to make you ‘orally fit’. For example: you cannot have tooth-coloured fillings and tooth-coloured crowns on back teeth on the NHS, but you can have silver amalgam fillings and white gold crowns.

Private dentists will be able to give you any treatment needed to make your mouth disease free. They will also be able to provide most cosmetic treatments. Some of these may be more a matter of preference than necessity. You and your dentist will need to agree the treatment programme that is in your best interests.

If your dentist cannot provide you with the treatment recommended, for example, orthodontic treatment or a general anaesthetic, you are entitled to be referred to another practice or hospital for this treatment.

A few private dentists offer guarantees. Nevertheless, if any treatment is of unsatisfactory quality you are entitled by law to either a refund or the cost of replacement treatment.


When do I pay for my treatment?
Some practices will allow you to pay at the end of a course of treatment, and others will ask you to pay for all treatment at the start. It is quite common to be asked to pay for the treatment done at each appointment.

NHS rules allow dentists to insist that all treatment is paid for in advance. To save any embarrassment you should ask your dentist what the arrangements are for payment.


Should the dentist give me an estimate?
NHS dentists must give you a written estimate for any extensive course of treatment, or whenever you ask for one. Private dentists are not covered by the same rules, but they should give you a written estimate if you ask.

If your dentist does not tell you the cost of private treatment until the end of the treatment, and you feel that it is too expensive, you can query the cost. The law says that if you and the dentist have not agreed the cost of treatment beforehand, you have to pay a reasonable fee for the treatment provided. However, to avoid any misunderstandings or a dispute over what is a reasonable fee it is a good idea to get a written estimate from your dentist before starting any course of treatment. This should give details of the treatment recommended and the cost of the treatment.



Can I ask for a second opinion?
Before starting any treatment make sure that you understand the treatment the dentist has recommended. The dentist should explain to you the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed treatment and any alternatives that are available. With this information you are better placed to make a decision about whether or not to have the treatment.

If you are still unsure, you may want to get a second opinion before starting treatment. Although you can always ask another dentist for a second opinion, the NHS does not cover this, so the dentist may charge you privately.
If the second opinion is different from that of your dentist, remember that dentists have the right to disagree on what the best treatment for a patient is.


Can I refuse treatment?
Yes. You can refuse any treatment you do not want to have. NHS dentists cannot force a patient to accept treatment. Your dentist must have your permission before it is carried out. However, if you refuse to have the treatment that the dentist considers you need, they may refuse to continue treating you.


Can my dentist refuse to see me?
Your dentist can refuse to see you if you have not paid for your treatment in line with the practice’s policy. Private dentists should finish your present course of treatment before refusing to see you again unless there is a very good reason for them not to, such as non payment.


Can the dentist charge me if I miss an appointment?
Many practices will charge you if you miss an appointment or cancel one at short notice. However, they must tell you beforehand that they do this. This is often done by a warning on the appointment card.


When can a dentist take me off the register?
If you are a registered NHS patient you will be automatically removed from the practice’s register if you do not attend within 15 months. In other circumstances your dentist must normally give you 3 months’ notice before taking you off his list. In certain cases the dentist can ask the health authority for permission to remove you from the list sooner.

A dentist may remove you from the register for any of these reasons: · regular missed appointments
· persistent lateness
· not paying for treatment
· failure to follow dental recommendations
· abuse to staff
Your dentist must finish your present course of treatment and provide you with any emergency treatment you need in the meantime.

If you are a member of a private dental insurance scheme, the rules of the scheme will usually mean that the dentist has to give you a fixed period of notice to end the scheme. The dentist must provide all necessary treatment until the scheme ends.


What happens if I want to change my dentist during a course of treatment?
If you are not satisfied with the treatment you are receiving from your dentist, or you feel uncomfortable about continuing treatment for any other reason, you are entitled to stop the treatment. If the treatment that you have received can be shown to be unsatisfactory you will not have to pay for the treatment.


What happens to my records if I change my dentist?
Your records belong to your dentist, and are not passed on to your new dentist. Your new dentist can ask your previous dentist for a report on your dental treatment or you can ask for copies of your records to be sent to your new dentist. However, most dentists simply make their own records. Under the NHS, dentists have to keep dental records for at least 2 years. There is no similar rule for private dentists.


Can I see my records?
The Data Protection Act 1998 allows you to inspect your records and x-rays. It also entitles you to copies of your records and x-rays, but you have to pay for these. If you have any problems in understanding what the records mean the dentist must explain them to you. This will be especially so with dental records, as the dentist will use symbols and abbreviations to record what treatment has been done. The dentist must allow you to see your records or provide you with copies within 40 days.


Should the dentist wear gloves?
A dentist must take all reasonable precautions to protect patients and staff from transmittable disease. Almost all dentists nowadays wear gloves, as this protects both the dentist and the patient. Although it is strongly recommended that dentists do wear gloves it is not a legal duty.


What if I have an emergency?
If you are a registered NHS patient you are entitled to emergency treatment within 24 hours. Outside normal working hours your dentist will either see you personally or make arrangements for another dentist to see you. Outside working hours an answer message should explain how you can receive emergency treatment. Private dentists are obliged to provide similar emergency cover for their patients.