FAQ

What Can You Expect From Us?

• We will listen to your dental problems and try to give you an explanation and solution to those needs.
• We will follow the latest cross-infection guidelines. Your safety is our primary concern.
• We will keep you informed of the latest techniques and use the best materials available.
• We will give you a written estimate detailing any treatment costs and when payment is expected.
• We will do all we can to keep to time because we know everyone hates to be kept waiting.

What Do We Expect From You?

• To attend your appointments promptly, and if you are unable to do this to let us know as soon as possible.
• To pay for treatment at the end of each visit as requested.
• To look after the work that we provide for you with the techniques that we will teach you.
• If you are happy with our visits then please recommend us to anyone you feel would like the services we offer. Our practice grows by recommendations.

How Do I Book An Appointment?

Simply telephone us on 0191 2130188, or call in to see us. Alternatively, you can request an appointment online by grangereception@riverdalehealthcare.com

Are You Taking On New Patients?

Yes – we are always happy to see new patients. Many of our new patients are referred to us by our existing ones – if you have been referred by one of our patients, please do let us know so we can thank them.

Can We Register At The Practice On The NHS?

There is no longer any registration on the NHS. We do see NHS patients for courses of treatment. You can register at the practice by choosing our Preventative Care Plan.

What Should I Do In An Emergency?

If you are a private patient, practice plan patient, or any other patient requiring emergency treatment, please call us on 0191 2130188. If the practice is open, we will ensure that we can fit you in on the day. If it is out of hours, there will be a message on our answer machine telling you who to contact.

Can I Park At The Practice?

There is not a free car park at the rear of the property – Parking spaces are available at the front of the practice and also in the neighbouring streets.

Do You Have Facilities For Disabled People?

The practice has wide and easy access and we are also able to offer ground floor treatment rooms.

Why Do Treatment Plans Sometimes Vary From One Dentist To Another?

Variations in prescribing patterns between dentists do occur and are quite common. When examining teeth, dentists go through three steps. They consider first ‘is there anything wrong with the tooth?’; if so ‘does it need treatment?’ and finally, if it does, ‘what treatment is necessary?’. They will then discuss the treatment options with the patient.

There is little disagreement among dentists as to whether there is anything wrong with a tooth. Dental decay is a very slowly progressive disease, and therefore the question of whether a problem requires treatment could reasonably be ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘not yet’. If a patient is a regular attender and has seen the same dentist within the previous year, it may well be in the patient’s interests to keep a minor problem under observation. On the other hand it might be better for a patient who attends occasionally, or who is attending for the first time, to have all the problems dealt with.

If treatment is needed, there are a wide range of options. The most appropriate treatment is a matter of judgement by the dentist and may depend on the patient’s attention to oral hygiene and the likely cost to the patient. Some dentists adopt a more cautious approach and only recommend a complex treatment if a more simple procedure has failed. In making these decisions, dentists are influenced by the wishes of the patient.

A dentist’s advice about treatment will depend on a number of factors – whether the patient has been seen before, the dentist’s understanding of a particular problem that the patient might have (for example, a cavity which has been present for some time but is not progressing), the patient’s oral hygiene (which might make certain advanced forms of treatment less feasible), the patient’s timescale (a patient might be looking for a major overhaul or for simple maintenance) and so on.

For every dental problem there is a decision to be made about whether to treat or not, and if treatment is decided on, the type of treatment to be given. The decision must always be the patient’s, however. All treatment must have the patient’s informed consent. If you are concerned about a dentist’s treatment proposal, ask questions – ask to be shown the problem in a mirror, or with a diagram.