The Dental Complaints Service (DCS) is encouraging private dental patients to talk to their dental professional if they have any concerns about their treatment.
The DCS helps dental patients and dental professionals in the UK resolve complaints about private dental treatment. They aim to do it fairly, efficiently, transparently and quickly by working with both parties.
Staff from the DCS will be at the Vitality Show in London’s Earls Court 2, Stand H376 from 22-25 March 2012 to remind patients that the first step if a problem arises is to speak to their dental professional.
The show is the UK’s largest health, beauty, fitness and wellbeing event and is at Earls Court Two from 22-25 March.
Head of the DCS, Hazel Adams, says they want to help patients understand what to expect from their dental professional and what to do if their expectations are not met.
She said: ‘There are lots of questions that patients should feel confident asking before they go ahead with treatment, for example; how much the 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 how long any particular course of treatment will take.’
Hazel adds that good communication between patients and professionals can make all the difference when problems arise and patients should know that they can ask for a detailed treatment plan before work begins.
The DCS has a leaflet ‘Making a complaint about private dental care’ that helps guide people through the complaints process and will be available on the stand.
There are four key principles to the work of the DCS, which is funded by the GDC:
• The service is free
• It is independent of the NHS and the government
• It will treat people fairly, whatever their background or circumstances
• It does not take sides.
For more details about the service and what it can help with log on to the website www.dentalcomplaints.org.uk.
