Terms and Conditions | A1 Dental Canterbury

Last Updated: 20 March 2026

Introduction

These terms and conditions govern your use of services at A1 Dental Surgery. By registering as a patient and receiving treatment, you agree to these terms.

Practice Details:
A1 Dental Surgery
52 London Road
Canterbury
Kent CT2 8LF
Phone: 01227 765 851
Email: a1teeth52@yahoo.com

Registration and Acceptance

Registration Process

Registration as a patient at A1 Dental Surgery requires:

  • Completed medical history form
  • Proof of identity and address
  • Agreement to these terms and conditions

NHS vs Private Registration

You may register for NHS treatment, private treatment, or both. NHS treatment is subject to NHS eligibility criteria and regulations. Private treatment is governed by our private fee schedule.

Right to Refuse Registration

We reserve the right to refuse registration or remove patients from our list in cases of:

  • Violent, abusive, or threatening behavior toward staff
  • Persistent failure to attend appointments without notice
  • Non-payment of fees
  • Behavior making the dentist-patient relationship untenable

We’ll provide written notice and reasons where possible, except in cases of violence or threats requiring immediate removal.

Booking and Attendance

Booking Appointments

Appointments can be booked:

  • By telephone: 01227 765 851
  • By email: a1teeth52@yahoo.com
  • In person at reception
  • Online (if available)

Appointment Times

Appointment times are approximate. While we strive for punctuality, dental treatment sometimes takes longer than planned. We appreciate your patience if delays occur.

If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, we may need to reschedule to avoid delaying other patients.

Missed Appointments and Cancellations

Notice required: We require 48 hours notice for appointment cancellations or changes.

Missed appointment charges:

  • NHS patients: May be charged the appropriate NHS band fee for missed appointments without adequate notice
  • Private patients: May be charged up to 100% of the appointment fee
  • Repeated missed appointments may result in removal from our patient list

Exceptions: We understand genuine emergencies occur. If you miss an appointment due to sudden illness, accident, or other emergency, contact us as soon as possible to explain.

Why this matters: Missed appointments without notice prevent other patients accessing care. We reserve slots specifically for you, which remain empty if you don’t attend or cancel.

Emergency Appointments

We reserve slots daily for genuine dental emergencies. Call 01227 765 851 immediately if you’re experiencing:

  • Severe dental pain
  • Facial swelling
  • Dental trauma or knocked-out teeth
  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Suspected dental abscess

We’ll assess urgency and see you same-day whenever possible.

Clinical Care Standards

Treatment Planning

Before starting treatment, we’ll:

  • Explain your diagnosis and treatment options
  • Discuss risks, benefits, and alternatives
  • Provide clear cost estimates
  • Answer your questions
  • Obtain your informed consent

Consent Requirements

You must provide informed consent before treatment begins. For children under 16, consent is required from a parent or legal guardian except in emergency situations.

You can withdraw consent at any time, though this may affect treatment outcomes.

Treatment Modifications

If we discover additional issues during treatment (e.g., deeper decay than X-rays showed), we’ll stop, explain the situation, and obtain consent for modified treatment. Costs may change accordingly.

Clinical Judgement

Treatment decisions are based on clinical judgement following General Dental Council guidelines. We’ll recommend what we believe is in your best interests, but final treatment decisions remain yours.

Referrals

Some conditions require specialist treatment beyond our scope. We’ll refer you to appropriate specialists when necessary. You’re responsible for attending these referrals and any associated costs.

Fees and Payments

NHS Charges

NHS treatment follows the NHS three-band system:

  • Band 1: £26.80
  • Band 2: £73.50
  • Band 3: £319.10

NHS charges are set by the government and subject to change. Payment is required at the time of treatment unless alternative arrangements are made.

Private Fees

Private fees are available on our Dental Fees page. Prices are subject to change but you’ll be quoted the price applicable when your treatment is planned.

Payment Methods

We accept:

  • Cash
  • Debit and credit cards
  • Bank transfer
  • 0% finance (for treatments over £500, subject to approval)
  • Denplan membership
  • Dental insurance (we’ll submit claims on your behalf where possible)

Payment Timing

NHS patients: Payment is due when treatment starts (first appointment of your course of treatment).

Private patients: Payment is typically due on the day of treatment unless alternative arrangements are made. For treatment spanning multiple appointments, we may require:

  • Payment in full before treatment starts
  • Staged payments at specified appointments
  • Approved finance arrangements

Estimates vs Final Costs

We provide treatment cost estimates before starting. Final costs may differ if:

  • Treatment complexity changes during procedures
  • Additional issues are discovered requiring extra work
  • Treatment appointments exceed estimated number

We’ll inform you of any cost changes before proceeding.

Outstanding Balances

Outstanding balances must be paid within 30 days. We reserve the right to:

  • Suspend further treatment until payment is received
  • Charge interest on overdue accounts
  • Engage debt collection agencies
  • Pursue legal action for significant unpaid amounts

Refunds

Refunds are not automatically provided if you’re dissatisfied with treatment. If you have concerns about treatment quality, please follow our Complaints Procedure first.

Refunds may be provided at our discretion following investigation of genuine complaints.

Patient Responsibilities

Medical History

You must:

  • Provide accurate medical history information
  • Inform us of any changes to your health or medications
  • Disclose all relevant medical conditions
  • Update emergency contact information

Failure to disclose relevant medical information may affect treatment safety and outcomes.

Attendance

You must:

  • Attend scheduled appointments or provide adequate notice of cancellation
  • Arrive on time
  • Attend recommended follow-up appointments
  • Complete prescribed courses of treatment

Home Care

You’re responsible for:

  • Maintaining oral hygiene as instructed
  • Following post-treatment care instructions
  • Taking prescribed medications as directed
  • Contacting us if problems or concerns arise

Children

Parents and guardians must:

  • Accompany children under 16 to appointments
  • Provide consent for treatment
  • Ensure children attend appointments
  • Supervise children’s home oral care

Honest Communication

Please inform us honestly about:

  • Pain levels and symptoms
  • Treatment preferences and concerns
  • Financial constraints affecting treatment choices
  • Anxiety or fears about treatment

This helps us provide appropriate care tailored to your needs.

Complaints Procedure 

If you’re dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, please see our Complaints Policy for the full procedure.

In summary:

  1. Speak to reception or Dr Banvir directly
  2. Submit formal written complaint if informal resolution fails
  3. We’ll investigate and respond within specified timeframes
  4. Escalate to external bodies if you remain unsatisfied

We take complaints seriously and use them to improve our services.

Legal Limitations

Professional Indemnity

We maintain professional indemnity insurance as required by the General Dental Council.

Treatment Outcomes

While we strive for excellent results, we cannot guarantee specific treatment outcomes. Dental treatment involves inherent risks and individual variation in healing and results.

Complications

Some treatments carry risk of complications despite proper technique. We’ll explain relevant risks before treatment, but cannot be held liable for known complications that occur despite appropriate care.

Third Party Products

We’re not liable for defects in third-party products (dental materials, laboratory work) beyond our reasonable control, though we’ll work to resolve any issues.

Privacy and Data Protection

We’re committed to maintaining confidentiality of your personal and medical information in accordance with:

  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  • Data Protection Act 2018
  • General Dental Council ethical guidelines

See our Privacy Policy for full details on how we collect, use, and protect your data.

We’ll only share your information:

  • With healthcare professionals involved in your care
  • When legally required
  • With your explicit consent
  • As detailed in our Privacy Policy

Additional Practice Rules

Photography and Imaging

We may take clinical photographs and X-rays as part of your dental records. These are confidential medical records protected under data protection laws.

For photographs beyond routine clinical records (e.g., before/after images for smile makeovers), we’ll seek specific consent.

Children in the Waiting Room

Children must be supervised by adults at all times in our waiting room and practice. We’re not responsible for accidents or injuries to unsupervised children.

Infection Control

We follow strict infection control protocols including:

  • Sterilization of instruments
  • Use of disposable items where appropriate
  • Personal protective equipment for staff
  • Regular disinfection of surfaces

Smoking

Our practice and immediate surroundings are non-smoking areas.

Mobile Phones

Please silence mobile phones in treatment areas. You may use phones in the waiting room.

Terms Modifications

We may update these terms and conditions periodically to reflect changes in our practice, legal requirements, or regulations.

We’ll notify patients of significant changes by:

  • Email to registered patients
  • Notice in the practice
  • Updated date on this page

Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of modified terms.

Legal Jurisdiction

These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Questions About These Terms

If you have questions about these terms and conditions:

Email: a1teeth52@yahoo.com
Phone: 01227 765 851
Post: A1 Dental Surgery, 52 London Road, Canterbury, Kent CT2 8LF

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