What will happen at my first visit to a dentist? Expand At your initial visit, your new dentist will take all of your personal details, such as your address and date of birth. They will also take a full medical history to make sure that they are fully aware of any illnesses or medication that you may be taking and they can then treat you safely. The dentist will then carry out a full check-up and chart all of your teeth and previous treatment, they will also assess the condition of your gums and your general oral hygiene. They may also take diagnostic x-rays. If you need to have any dental treatment, your dentist will discuss this with you. They may give you a treatment plan and tell you what the cost is going to be. You can make any further appointments as necessary. More information: Visiting the dental hygienist Dental x-rays
How do I make a complaint about my dental care? Expand If you are unhappy with your dental treatment, the first thing to do is always approach your dental practice with your concerns. This can either be done by telephone, letter or email. Explain your concerns and what you would like the ideal solution to be. In most cases you will be able to solve the problem together with your dentist. If you are still not happy, you might need to seek a second opinion from another dentist for which they may make a charge. If you would rather not go directly to the practice, you can contact NHS England, which is responsible for NHS dental services. If you're not happy with the way your complaint was handled – either by the dental practice or NHS England – you may wish to contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). You can find further information and support for making a complaint from: A hospital's Patient Advice and Liaison Service, if your treatment was carried out in a hospital. Your local Citizens Advice. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the CQC does not settle individual disputes, but your feedback about a practice helps it to decide when, where and what to inspect. Complaining about private dental treatment If you wish to make a complaint about private dental services, contact the practice manager of the private dental surgery. Your complaint must be made within 12 months of receiving treatment. If your complaint is not resolved satisfactorily, you may want to consider contacting the General Dental Council, which sets standards of conduct and regulates all dental professionals in the UK. It may be able to investigate your concerns. You can also contact the Dental Complaints Service on 020 8253 0800 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or visit its website for more information.
What are the NHS dental charges? Expand In the UK, dentistry is one of the few National Health Service (NHS) services where you have to pay a contribution towards the cost of your care. This means that there are now three standard charges for the NHS for dental treatment. This will help to make the NHS system easier and more accessible for patients.There is one charge for a course of treatment under the NHS, the cost will vary depending on what dental treatment you require. Currently these charges are: Band Treatment England Wales One Examination, diagnosis, x-rays, scale & polish. When you need to see a dentist immediately, usually for extreme pain, swelling or excessive bleeding. £27.40 £20.00 Two Band 2 treatment includes all items in Band 1, plus it may include fillings, root canal treatment, removing teeth (extraction) and other oral surgery procedures £75.30 £60.00 Three All treatments in bands one and two plus more complex procedures such as crowns, dentures or bridges. £326.70 £260.00 Urgent or emergency treatment Emergency appointment £27.40 £30 Please note that this information has been taken from the Department of Health and the information is provided as a guideline only. Your dentist will assess your individual needs to see if you fit the criteria for the above treatments. Scotland and Northern Ireland are still operating under the old NHS system with no plans to change at present. The maximum charge for a single course of NHS treatment in Scotland and Northern Ireland is £384; some treatments will require prior approval before a dentist can commence work on you.
How do I find a dentist? Expand If you are in the UK, you can find an NHS dentist: By telephone on 0300 311 2233. Online at www.nhs.uk. With a postcode search you can find your nearest dentist that is taking on new patients. More information: NHS Find a Dentist
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