If you’re sad together with your dental therapy, it’s essential to know that you’ve got the precise to boost a priority and be heard.

Most issues will be sorted out by speaking issues by way of early.

First steps: communicate to the dental follow

The very first thing to do is contact the dental follow straight.

You are able to do this by:

You’ll be able to:

  • Communicate to your dentist or the follow supervisor.

  • Ask for the follow’s formal complaints process. All NHS practices should have one.

  • Clarify clearly what you’re sad about.

  • Say what end result you’re hoping for (for instance, a proof, apology or refund).

Many issues will be resolved at this stage.

Complaints about NHS dental therapy

In case your therapy was supplied below the NHS and the difficulty will not be resolved by the follow, you possibly can contact the organisation liable for NHS dental providers in your space.

Complaints ought to usually be made inside 12 months of the therapy or while you first turned conscious of the issue.

England

  • If you don’t really feel snug complaining to the follow, or the difficulty will not be resolved, contact your native Built-in Care Board (ICB).

  • ICBs are liable for planning and shopping for NHS dental providers in England.

If you’re nonetheless sad after this, you possibly can contact the Parliamentary and Well being Service Ombudsman (PHSO).
Phone: 0345 015 4033

The Ombudsman is unbiased and might evaluation how your grievance was dealt with.

Wales

  • If the follow doesn’t resolve your grievance, contact your native Native Well being Board (LHB).

Should you stay sad, you possibly can contact the Public Companies Ombudsman for Wales, who independently critiques complaints about NHS providers.

Scotland

  • You could find details about the way to complain by way of NHS inform.

  • If the follow doesn’t resolve the difficulty, your native NHS Board can evaluation the grievance.

If you’re nonetheless sad, you possibly can contact the Scottish Public Companies Ombudsman.

Northern Eire

  • If the follow doesn’t resolve your grievance, contact your native Well being and Social Care (HSC) organisation.

Should you stay sad, you possibly can contact the Northern Eire Public Companies Ombudsman.

Complaints about non-public dental therapy

In case your therapy was non-public:

  • Contact the follow supervisor first.

  • Make your grievance inside 12 months of the therapy.

If the difficulty will not be resolved, you possibly can contact the Dental Complaints Service (DCS) by callling 020 8253 0800 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm).

The Dental Complaints Service helps settle complaints about non-public dental care.

You too can contact the Normal Dental Council (GDC).

The GDC regulates dental professionals. They’ll examine issues a few dental skilled’s behaviour or health to practise. They don’t settle compensation claims.

Different sources of assist and recommendation

You may additionally discover help from:

  • Healthwatch (England) – unbiased well being complaints advocacy.

  • Affected person Recommendation and Liaison Service (PALS) – if therapy was carried out in a hospital.

  • Residents Recommendation – totally free and unbiased steering.

  • Care High quality Fee (CQC) (England) – they examine dental providers. They don’t resolve particular person complaints, however your suggestions helps them monitor providers.

Bear in mind

Elevating a priority doesn’t imply you’re being tough.

Most dental groups wish to put issues proper and be taught from suggestions.

If you’re not sure what to do subsequent, unbiased recommendation providers can assist information you thru the method.

Final reviewed: April 2026


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Creator:

Sophie Turner