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A dental implant is a small screw which is placed into the bone where a tooth is missing to provide the most stable and long-lasting platform for the replacement of the missing teeth. Titanium dental implants were first used forty years ago. Over that period of time there has been a very large amount of research to show that they work extremely effectively and reliably, and in most situations, are the best possible replacement for missing teeth.

Ceramic implants made of Zirconia are now also available. These are white non-metal dental implants. The Dental Implant Clinic is an accredited centre for the placement of Straumann Zirconia implants.

Complaints

It is our aim to always have satisfied patients, to meet your expectations of care and service and to resolve any complaints as efficiently, effectively and politely as possible. We take complaints very seriously, investigating them in a full and fair way and take great care to protect your confidentiality. We learn from complaints to improve our care and service. We will never discriminate against patients who have made a complaint and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have about this procedure.

If you are not entirely satisfied with any aspect of our care or service, please let us know as soon as possible to allow us to address your concerns promptly. We accept complaints made verbally as well as written complaints.

Our practice manager, Mrs Lisa Stuart, is also our Complaints Manager and will be your personal contact to assist you with any complaints.

You can send your complaints to 24 Newbridge Road, Bath, Somerset, BA1 3JZ, call us on 01225 448400 or email the Complaints Manager on [email protected].

If the Complaints Manager is unavailable, we will take brief details about the complaint and will arrange for a meeting when it is suitable for you and the practice. We will keep comprehensive and confidential records of your complaint, which will be stored securely and only accessible to those who need to know about your complaint. If the complaint investigation takes longer than anticipated, the Complaints Manager will contact you at least every ten working days to keep you informed of the reason for any delays, the progress of the investigation and the proposed date it will be completed.

When the investigation has been completed, you will be informed of its outcome in writing. We will make our response clear, addressing each of your concerns as best as we can. You will also be invited to a meeting to discuss the results and any practical solutions that we can offer to you. These solutions could include replacing treatment, refunding fees paid, referring you for specialist treatments or other solutions that meet your needs and resolve the complaint.

We regularly analyse patient complaints to learn from them and to improve our services. That’s why we welcome your feedback, comments, suggestions, and complaints. If you are dissatisfied with our response to your complaint, you can contact the GDC private dental complaints service within 12 months of the treatment or within 12 months of becoming aware of the issue. The contact details are:

Tel: 0208 253 0800 or visit: www.dentalcomplaints.org.uk

You can also contact the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who regulates private and NHS dental care in England by calling 03000 616161. They can take action against a service provider that is not meeting their standards.

The General Dental Council is responsible for regulating all dental professionals. You can complain using their online form at www.gdc-uk.org, contact them on [email protected], or by calling 0207 167 6000.