We are always pleased to assist our clients whenever we can. This document gives details of our terms and conditions of service. If however, you have any queries or need clarification, please contact us and a member of staff will be happy to help you.

Please be aware that any information provided through any part of our website (examples: forum, blog, news, main site, live chat, phone, email.) cannot be considered as professional advice. No professional advice can be given without a clinical consultation with a dentist.

For professional dental advice we strongly recommend that you see a dentist for full consultation.

Treatment Plans & Estimates

Once your treatment plan has been agreed with the Dentist, we will provide printed details of your plan. If this plan changes due to radiographic or clinical findings, we will inform you and discuss this with you. Treatment plans and fees are valid for 90 days from the date the treatment was prescribed. If there are any points on your treatment plan that you wish to query, please do not hesitate to ask us, before the appointments for actual treatments are made.

Consent Forms

Certain treatments require completion of a written consent form. This is in order to explain the treatment, aftercare and any risk to you thoroughly, before any of these treatments are carried out. Consent for any treatment can be withdrawn at any point by the patient or dental professional.

Fees

Fees for treatment are due on the day the treatment is provided. Alternatively, an approved finance plan has to be in place on the day the treatment is provided. We do not operate an account in arrears facility and we require fees to be settled at the appointment where treatment is provided. Where treatment incurs a laboratory fee, a minimum of 35% of the total fee is due at the appointment where impressions are taken.

In cases where treatment is paid for on finance through a Finance company please be aware that the finance agreement must be accepted and signed prior to the start of that treatment. Please note that finance is only available on treatments over £1000 and that a minimum deposit may also be required.

If you have financed any of the costs of your treatment through the finance company, and wish to cancel your treatment after signing the agreement forms please be aware that a cancellation fee of up to 15% of the total finance amount will be charged. In some circumstances, we reserve the right to request payment in advance for certain treatments.

Wearside Orthodontic Centre Ltd reserves the right to charge time based deposits for booking future appointments Deposits are deductible off the cost of treatment.

Payment methods accepted are:

• Cash
• Debit/Credit Card excluding American express

Wearside Orthodontic Centre Ltd does not accept any payments by cheque (unless agreed in advance with the practice owner). Please note that unpaid accounts are routinely referred to a Debt Collection Agency or the Small Claim Court, and we reserve the right to recover all costs incurred in doing so.

We reserve the right to ask for payment in full before beginning any treatment plan.

Late for Appointment

We understand that some patients travel long distances to get to the clinic, and in some cases being late for appointments can be unavoidable. If you are more than10 minutes, please be aware that you may be asked to reschedule your appointment.

Personal Details

It is very important that you give a full medical history and details of any medication you take. Should these change in any way, it is very important for you to tell your Dentist. It is the patient's responsibility to inform the clinic of any changes in either personal details and/or their medical history

Use of Images and X-Rays

Wearside Orthodontic Centre Ltd may use images and X-rays of your smile and teeth only, for marketing and educational purposes on the Wearside Orthodontic Centre Ltd website, and on promotional and educational literature. Your name will never be published, and identity will never be disclosed. However, if you DO NOT wish for us to use your images and x-rays in this way, please let us know.

Use of Patient Contact Details

At Wearside Orthodontic Centre Ltd the health of our patients is our highest priority, and we also like to keep our patients informed of various important changes at the clinic and of our latest special offers. We like to remind our patients of their appointments, when they are due for appointments, and other various important reminders. On this note, you may be periodically contacted by the clinic via phone, text, email or by letter in the post. If you DO NOT wish to be contacted by the clinic by any or all of these means, please let us know.

No Tolerance/Abuse Policy

We operate a zero tolerance policy to abuse to our Dentists and staff, loud/disorderly/drunken behaviour, persistent missing and late cancellation of appointments (after multiple warnings). In these situations, Wearside Orthodontic Centre Ltd reserves the right to refuse treatment and admission.

Promotions

Wearside Orthodontic Centre Ltd occasionally runs special offers and promotions on treatments. These are subject to availability of appointments and suitability of the treatment for the patient

Data Protection Act

We store all patient personal details on a secure computer system in accordance with the Data Protection Act & GDPR. All clinical notes, digital radiographs, digital photographs etc remain the property of Wearside Orthodontic Centre Ltd.

Copies of notes, radiographs and photographs can be made available on request, and we reserve the right to charge an administration fee for these.