OFT Launches New Dental Campaign To Make People Aware Of Their Rights
The Office of Fair Trading has launched a new campaign to make people aware of their rights when they visit a dentist.
The campaign, which is entitled ‘Right to Smile’ is supported by the British Dental Association, consumer groups and private dental practices and aims to educate people about the rights they have when they see their dentist.
The campaign comes shortly after a report, which revealed that some patients are not aware of the choices they have with regard to NHS dental treatment. A survey revealed that most people are happy with the treatment they get from their dentist, but some feel that they do not know enough about the services on offer to be able to make a well-informed decision about their dental care.
The OFT advises NHS patients that they are entitled to a wide range of dental services, which are designed to promote good oral health. Patients who see an NHS dentist are entitled to preventative and oral hygiene treatments, restorative treatments, extractions, check-ups and some surgical procedures, at discounted rates; if your NHS dentist recommends a treatment, it should be available on the NHS.
Cosmetic dental treatments are not available on the NHS and patients will be advised to visit a private dentist for such treatments; some orthodontic treatments, such as traditional fixed braces, may be available on the NHS, but cosmetic braces are not subsidised by the NHS.
Judith Frame, head of campaigns at the OFT, said that standards of oral care and patient satisfaction are very high in the UK, but more needs to be done to inform patients about their rights to dental care; the aim of the campaign is to provide patents with the information they need to be clear about what kinds of treatment they are entitled to on the NHS and which treatments are available from private dentists only.
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