This practice recognises that all members of the team have an ethical and legal duty to keep patient information confidential. The relationship this practice has with each patient is based on trust that information will not be given to external persons or organisations without the patient's consent. All members of the practice team are expected to comply with this policy and are advised to be aware of the confidentiality clause within their staff contract.

The General Dental Council's Standards for Dental Professionals states that practitioners must "Protect the confidentiality of patients' information."

This means:

• Using information only for the purposes for which it was given.
• Preventing information from being accidentally revealed.
• Preventing unauthorised access and keeping information secure at all times.

Only in exceptional circumstances can a breach of confidentiality be justified.

Preventing Breaches of Confidentiality

We will keep all confidential data stored securely and will not allow it to be placed in areas where it may be seen by unauthorised personnel.

We will not provide information:

• To a school about a child's attendance.
• To employers about a patient's appointment.
• To third parties about appointments. If we need to leave a voicemail, we will only leave a message asking you to return our call.

Recall reminders and other personal correspondence will be sent in a sealed envelope.

Disclosure of Information

If it is necessary to release information about a patient:

• We will obtain the patient's consent first, where possible, and make sure they understand what information is being released, why, and any likely consequences.
• We will release the minimum information required.
• We will be prepared to justify our decisions and any follow-on action.

If we use patient information (for example, radiographs or study models) for teaching purposes, we will obtain the patient's consent and ensure the patient cannot be identified from the information released.

Exceptional Circumstances

Responsibility for any disclosure rests with the patient's dentist only. Under no circumstances will any other member of staff make such a decision.

There may be circumstances where the dentist considers it to be in the public interest to breach a patient's confidentiality. In such cases we will seek advice from our indemnifier before releasing any information to a third party.

A court may also order us to release information without the patient's consent. If so, we will only release the minimum information required.

Access to Records

Patients have the right to see their records. Under UK data protection law, we will respond to any such request within one calendar month. A request to see or receive a copy of records must be referred to the patient's dentist.

We will offer you the opportunity to come into the practice to discuss your records, and will provide you with a copy on request.

More Information

For more information on this topic, please speak with the Practice Manager, Claire Edwards, or contact us at reception@smilesensations.co.uk or 020 8303 1422.

Useful organisations:

• General Dental Council: www.gdc-uk.org

Information Commissioner's Office: www.ico.org.uk

Smile Sensations is a busy practice and appointments are in high demand. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please give us as much notice as possible.

If less than 48 hours' notice is given, a charge may be made for a missed private appointment.

Under NHS regulations, patients cannot be charged for missing an NHS appointment. However, if a patient cancels at short notice or fails to attend on more than two occasions within a three-year period, we may no longer be able to offer NHS care at this practice.

Letting us know when you cannot attend means we can offer your slot to another patient who needs it. We really appreciate your help with this.

To cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact us:

• Tel: 020 8303 1422
• Email: reception@smilesensations.co.uk

We will always give you full information about the cost of your treatment before any work is carried out.

A summary of NHS charges is displayed at reception and your dentist can also explain these to you. A written estimate and treatment plan is available for all dental treatment on request.

How to Pay

We accept payment by cash or credit/debit card.

For private treatment, we ask patients to pay a deposit before treatment begins to secure their appointment. Further payments are made in instalments throughout the course of treatment.

Please note: if an appointment is cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours' notice, the deposit will not be refunded. A new deposit will be required to rebook.

Spreading the Cost

We offer a finance plan that allows you to spread the cost of treatment over time. Please ask at reception for details.

We also offer a Practice Patient Plan, which covers routine check-ups and hygiene appointments for a fixed monthly payment. This typically works out more cost-effective than paying per visit. Your dentist or hygienist can discuss which option suits you best.

At Smile Sensations, our aim is to provide a safe, happy, and welcoming environment for both our patients and our team. We are grateful for the loyalty and kindness of our patients, and our staff are committed to delivering the highest standard of care.

We operate a zero tolerance policy. We will not accept aggressive, abusive, or threatening behaviour towards any member of our team or towards other patients on our premises.

If a patient behaves in this way and refuses to calm down when asked, they will be required to leave the premises. We may also remove them from our patient list.

If you feel that a member of our team has behaved inappropriately towards you, please contact our Practice Manager, Claire Edwards, on 020 8303 1422, or follow our complaints procedure, which is available on this website.