cosmetic dentistry Maryland

Advice Guide
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NHS dental treatment
How to find an NHS dentist
Cosmetic dentistry Marlyland means quality dental care.  If you want NHS dental treatment, you first need to find out which dentists in your area have contracts with your local Primary Care Trust to provide NHS treatment. Then you need to find one who is accepting new patients.

You can do this by going to the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk and clicking on Dentists, or by phoning NHS Direct – see under Further help. If you can't find an NHS dentist who is accepting new patients, ask NHS Direct if there's a waiting list in your area you can go on.

You don't need to register with a dentist in order to get NHS treatment but your dentist should keep a list of regular patients and provide ongoing treatment and care.

Some dentists do have contracts to only treat children on the NHS. However, they can't insist that they'll only treat your children on the NHS if you are taken on as a private patient. Under certain circumstances, your dentist may discontinue a course of treatment. This could happen, for example, if you don't cooperate with treatment or if you fail to turn up for lots of appointments. Where violence, or the threat of violence occurs, your dentist could discontinue treatment straight away, without any advance warning.

What treatment can you get on the NHS
You’re entitled to any treatment which you need to maintain your dental health. This could include the fitting of crowns, bridges and dentures. The dentist will give you a treatment plan after your check-up if you ask for it, which will show you what you need and the cost. There are three standard charges for a course of NHS dental treatment, depending on the treatment needed. These should be displayed in your dentist's waiting room. Some things, such as denture repairs, are free.

More details about NHS dental fees are available in a leaflet called HC12 Charges and Optical Voucher Values, which is available on Adviceguide – see under Further help.
Your dentist may offer to do part of the work on your treatment plan or additional treatment, privately. However, they should not pressure you into having treatment privately which is available on the NHS. If your dentist tries to do this, you should complain – see under Complaints.

Some treatment is not available on the NHS and can only be done privately, for example, white fillings in back teeth.
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Adviceguide Advice that makes a difference
If you have been getting NHS treatment and need to start treatment for something that has to be done privately, you should be given a form to sign to say you agree to begin private treatment.
Who can get free NHS dental treatment
You can get free dental treatment (including check-ups) if you:
Also, some people on a low income, including some people getting tax credits, can get free NHS dental treatment or treatment at a reduced cost.

Can you change your dentist?
You can go to a different dentist at any time. You should let your dentist know and cancel any appointments. If you want to change dentists during a course of treatment, you may have to pay the first dentist for the treatment to date. It is always sensible to find a second dentist in advance who is prepared to complete a course of treatment already started by another dentist.

Can your dentist charge you for not keeping or cancelling an appointment?
A dentist is not entitled to charge you for cancelling an appointment. However, if you fail to turn up or cancel lots of appointments, they may decide not to treat you.

Emergency treatment
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are responsible for providing out-of-hours emergency dental treatment. You will usually have to phone an emergency helpline first. If a decision is made that you need care or treatment out of hours, the PCT will make arrangements for this. There is a set fee for urgent and out-of-hours treatment.

Adviceguide Advice that makes a difference
Complaints about dentists
If you want to complain about your dentist, you should complain to your dental practice first. You can do this either by speaking to someone at the practice, or in writing. The dental practice must make a record of your complaint and look into it.
If you are not satisfied after this, you can appeal or refer the problem to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
You might also want to get help from The Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS). This is an independent service which can help you make a formal complaint about your dentist. You can get contact details of your local ICAS office from your dentist, NHS Direct or your local CAB. You can also look on the Adviceguide website at: www.adviceguide.org.uk.
Further help
Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice Bureaux give free, confidential, impartial and independent advice to help you solve problems. To find your nearest CAB, including those that give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB, or look under C in your phone book.
NHS
cosmetic dentistry MarylandTel: 0845 4647 (NHS Direct) Website: www.nhs.uk
Other information on Adviceguide which might help
NHS patients' rights
NHS and local authority social services complaints
NHS charges and optical voucher values
How to use an ombudsman in England
This fact sheet is produced by Citizens Advice, an operating name of The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. It is intended to provide general information only and should not be taken as a full statement of the law. The information applies to England only.
This fact sheet was last updated on 01 October 2010. The content is checked regularly for any changes. If it is some time since you obtained this fact sheet, please contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau to check if it is still correct. Or visit our website - www.adviceguide.org.uk - where you can download an up-to-date copy.

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