FAQs - Iriston House Dental Practice

What do I do in a dental emergency?

Call the surgery on 01506 652135 as early in the morning as you can. We will try our best to see you the same day.

Dental emergencies out of hours should call the practice on 01506 652135. Instructions to contact someone out of hours will be on our answering machine.

Do you have a reminder service for appointments?

We have a complimentary text messaging service to remind you of your appointment. This is only effective if we have an up to date mobile number for you. Please inform the receptionist if you would like to take part in this service and also if your mobile number changes at any time.

What happens if I need to cancel my appointment?

Call the surgery on 01506 652135 as early in the morning as possible to cancel or change an appointment. We require a minimum of 24 hours notice. Short notice cancellations will be liable for a charge.

Am I exempt from charges?

You are exempt from paying dental charges if you are

Under 18 years old
18 and in full time education
pregnant or have a baby under 12 Months
getting, or your partner gets:
income support
income-based jobseeker’s allowance (incapacity benefit or disability living allowance do not count as they are not income-related)
pension credit guarantee credit you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate
you are named on a valid HC2 certificate.

If you are named on a valid HC3 certificate you might get some help towards the cost of your NHS dental treatment.

If you are not in receipt of any of the above but think you may qualify for free dental treatment, please ask the receptionist for a form HC1

How can I pay for my dental treatment?

Most people pay for their dental treatment on a ‘pay as you go’ basis. Dental treatment must be paid for in full before the final visit.

What will my treatment cost?

Check ups are FREE for everyone on the NHS. The dentist will then examine you and if treatment is required they will discuss the costs in full with you and can provide you with a written estimate of the costs involved.

At what age should children be registered?

The very best way to do this is to start young and make sure that they have an only positive experience which is why we will happily register your children as soon as they are born or any time after.

How do I register as an NHS patient?

We can register you as an NHS patient by making you an appointment for a check up. Telephone 01506 652135 or call into the practice to make an appointment.

What is the complaints policy?

In this practice we take complaints very seriously and want to make sure our patients receive the best care possible.

We aim to continually improve our service and patient care from any feedback we receive from our patients.

If we have not met your expectations or feel dissatisfied with any aspect of our service

In the first instance:-

Please speak to your dentist and they will try to rectify the situation.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the discussion

Please provide details of your complaint in a letter addressed to the Practice Manager. We will acknowledge the complaint in writing within 3 working days and will seek to investigate the complaint within 10 working days and inform you of our findings in writing.

If you are not satisfied with the result of our procedure we can provide you contact details of Lothian Health Board.

How do I contact the GDC?

Contacting the General Dental Council

By phone

The General Dental Council encourage visitors to their website to contact them using their online customer contact form. However, if you would like to speak to them directly by telephone, you can call them using these numbers: 0843 903 3267 / 020 7167 6000. Be aware that, due to the sensitivity of their caseload, the General Dental Council record all incoming telephone calls.

By post

Please address all postal enquiries to this address:

General Dental Council,
37 Wimpole Street,
London,
W1G 8DQ