NHS ACCEPTANCE POLICY

All treatment that is necessary in your dentist’s opinion, to protect and maintain good oral health, and is available on the NHS. If you want to have any cosmetic treatment, such as tooth whitening, Invisalign, or facial aesthetics, this will be done privately. You should ask your dentist how much this will cost in addition to the charges for the NHS treatment.
 

What your NHS dentist should do:
 Carry out a thorough examination of your mouth, teeth and gums.
 Explain your treatment options and tell you what treatment can be done under the NHS, and what other work can be done privately if you wish.
 Inform you of the costs of your NHS treatment or private treatment.
 Provide you with a written treatment plan before carrying out any dental treatment, to confirm details and costs of the NHS treatment and any private work.
 Display a poster about NHS charges.
 Discuss with you how often you need to attend for a dental check-up.
 

As a patient, you are advised to:
 Give your dentist as much notice as possible if you have to cancel or change an appointment.
 Ask for a written treatment plan for any treatment if you are not given one.
 Ask questions if there is something you don’t understand.
 Pay your treatment bills promptly.
 Follow your dentist’s advice on how to avoid tooth decay and gum disease.
 Attend your appointments on time, and promptly. If you miss an appointment and not let us
know of any cancellation, your dentist has the right not to see you again. (Please refer to
DNA/FTA practice policy)
 Show proof of exemption if exempt from paying NHS dental charges
 

As mentioned previously if treatment is required, we will give both options for NHS and private
treatment and their comparative costs. Once we have a treatment plan made for you, we will give you a written copy. If any treatment proposals should need to change which in turn would change the cost, we will discuss these prior to application of treatment. We also have a display of NHS charges and private price lists are available on request. We are constantly reviewing our NHS appointments to whether some months we can accept new
paying, children and exempt NHS patients. We accept new paying patients, children aged 0-18 years old and exempt adults – this refers to patients who are exempt from NHS dental charges.
 

Examples are:
 Aged 18 and in full time education
 Patient is pregnant, or have had a baby in the last 12months before treatment starts
 Currently in prison or in a young offender’s institution
 Patients are getting, or your partner gets income support, income-based Jobseeker’s
Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit or Guarantee Credit
 Patients are entitled to, or are named on, a valid NHS tax Credit Exemption Certificate
(card)
 Patients are named on a valid HC2 Certificate
Patients may also be entitled to reduced cost NHS dental services because:
 Patients named on a HC3 certificate that is valid during the course of treatment which
limits the amount they have to pay
 

Proof of these exemptions will be required. You have the right to be asked for a preference of dentist when you are first registering, also when a dentist leaves you will be informed and booked in with their replacement.
 

Failed to attend Appointments:

The practice policy set is that if you fail your first new patient examination you will automatically will be de-registered without notice. To which your NHS place can then be given to another patient requiring NHS dental treatment. If you fail 3 NHS appointments within a rolling year we will not be able to continue to offer you NHS care within the practice, but we may be able to offer you private care only treatment. Practice is opening hours are Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm. When the practice is closed and you require urgent care, please telephone NHS 111 and press 1 for the dental line.

Our practice facilities cater for: 
 Access for wheelchair users
 Disabled toilet
 Hearing loop
 Baby changing facilities
 Interpreter services
 Same day Emergencies and urgent dental appointments (within opening hours)
 Referral for specialist needs