Anne Budenberg shares some of the reasons why young dentists should join the Dental Defence Union (DDU) early in their careers.
Over the course of your career, you will develop your clinical knowledge and skills. Having a strong support network is vital to this. By becoming a member of the DDU, you can rely on the guidance and expertise of fellow dental professionals.
With that in mind, here are some reasons that thousands of dentists choose to renew with the DDU each year.
Talk to someone who has been in your shoes
Our dento-legal advice line is led and staffed by dentists who have experienced the pressures and challenges of dental practice. They are available between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday. They provide an on-call service for dento-legal emergencies or urgent queries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Expert assistance with claims, complaints and investigations
If you are worried about a complaint, claim or investigation, our dento-legal advisers, claims handlers and in-house legal department have an excellent track record in representing dental professionals who are facing allegations about their clinical practice.
Online learning and development
The DDU website contains a wealth of practical guides, case studies and online learning modules. These help you stay up to date with everything from using social media ethically to complaints handling.
You can also find in-depth features, interviews and advice line dilemmas in our online DDU Journal.
Expertise on hand with the DDU membership app
Available exclusively for members, you can customise the app to get tailored content, search frequently asked questions and read the DDU’s case studies, guides and articles whenever you want. The app is available to download from Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Advice before you sign on the dotted line
Our dento-legal experts can advise on the wording of associate agreements, check self-employed contracts against best practice guidelines, and provide access to a model contract, developed with specialist dental lawyers. We have also negotiated competitive rates for DDU members who wish to take a contract dispute further and need specific legal advice.
What our members say
‘I contacted the DDU when I received a letter from the GDC that said a complaint had been made by a patient.
‘My complaints handler at the DDU was exceptional. She helped me with every step and explained to me what we could do and what to expect. She also offered me some places where I could get mental health support.
‘The situation for me was extremely stressful, the worst thoughts come to your mind when you receive a letter like this. My DDU adviser was always available for me and was very empathetic. It really helped me to know that there was someone there to give support.
‘I am extremely grateful as she would even call me when I sent her an email with a concern so we could have a chat about it and all my questions were answered.
‘I wouldn’t like anyone to go through what I did, but I think we need to be aware that these situations happen and try to keep calm when they do.’
The DDU is here for students. Our advisory support team is available to all members via [email protected]. Student membership is free and first year graduate membership is £10. To learn more and to join the DDU, visit www.theddu.com/join.
This article is sponsored by the DDU.
