Patients urged to talk privately to dentists

The Dental Complaints Service (DCS) is encouraging patients to talk more to their dental professional and be confident in asking questions about private dental treatment.
 
The DCS helps dental patients and dental professionals in the UK resolve complaints about private dental services. They aim to do it fairly, efficiently, transparently and quickly by working with both parties.
 
As Head of the DCS, Hazel Adams explains, there are some simple questions every dental professional should be happy to answer: ‘Patients should feel able to ask how much treatment will cost, when they will have to pay and what happens if they are unhappy with the results. The patient might also want to ask whether the work is guaranteed for a certain length of time and how long any particular course of treatment will take.’
 
She adds that good communication between patients and professionals can make all the difference when problems arise: ‘We try to be imaginative and flexible in helping to resolve a complaint. But we always ask people to try to resolve things with their dental professional first. In my experience, the majority of complaints are caused by some form of breakdown in communication; if people can just keep talking to each other many situations can be avoided.’
 
To help people better understand the service and how to deal with problems when they arise, the DCS has produced a new leaflet Making a complaint about private dental care which is available through the GDC website here.
 
Staff from the DCS will be at the 50+ Show in London’s Olympia Grand hall on the 15 and 16 July to remind patients that the first step if a problem arises is to speak to their dental professional.
 
For more details about the service and what it can help with log on to the website www.dentalcomplaints.org.uk.

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