Smile Dental Care is known for delivering exceptional treatment tailored to meet your unique needs and desires.
We provide a comprehensive range of services and treatments, from routine check-ups to complete smile makeovers, braces to bridges, dentures to dental implants.
Our treatment options are diverse and designed to create a personalized plan for you, ensuring the best possible care based on your individual goals.
At Smile Dental Care, we don’t just focus on offering top-tier treatments while you’re in our care; we also aim to build a lasting relationship with you. We’re here for you even after you’ve left our clinic, ensuring continued care and support.
Whether you’re seeking straighter teeth, a brighter smile, or simply peace of mind knowing your dental health is in capable hands, we’re passionate about helping you achieve your smile goals in a friendly and welcoming environment.
And in case of a dental emergency, we always make time to see you the same day!
At Smile Dental Care, we believe that our staff should work in a safe and respectful environment, free from any threat, abuse, violence, or aggression.
In line with national NHS guidelines, we have a strict zero-tolerance policy towards unacceptable behavior.
The following behaviors are not tolerated in our practice:
Actual or threatened physical violence towards staff or other patients
Psychological abuse of staff
Verbal abuse, including shouting or swearing
Racial abuse
Sexual harassment or abuse
Threats against practice personnel in the workplace
Theft or damage to practice property
Bringing drugs or alcohol onto the premises
If any patient displays abusive or violent behavior towards staff or others at Smile Dental Care, we reserve the right to remove them from our patient list. In severe cases, we may involve the police.
All incidents will be reported to Faiyaz Amla and logged in the Significant Events Log. Any injuries will be documented in the accident book.
We are committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for both our staff and patients.
At Smile Dental Care, we believe in transparency when it comes to the cost of your dental care. It is our responsibility to provide you with full information about the cost of treatments before any procedures are carried out.
A list of common treatment charges is available at our reception and can also be found on our practice website for privately provided services.
We ensure that all patients:
Are fully informed about what they need to pay, when the payment is due, and the available payment methods (e.g., cash, card, direct transfer)
Understand what they will receive for their payment, including details of the treatment or care they will receive
Are aware of whether their treatment is provided privately or through the NHS via a treatment plan
Receive a written estimate and treatment plan upon request, especially when the treatment goes beyond routine preventive exams or hygiene care
Understand their responsibility regarding payment terms and how to avoid penalties for overdue fees (such as missed appointment charges or late payments)
Are not pressured into signing agreements or making immediate payments
Receive a receipt for any payments made and can review their account details at any time
Have the opportunity to speak with a staff member who can clearly explain what payments are due and what they cover
Are able to discuss available treatment options and their associated costs with our team
Are given an estimate when a precise cost cannot be determined upfront (e.g., laboratory work) and will receive timely updates on any additional costs if needed
We aim to make the payment process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Payment Methods
We accept all major debit and credit cards. Please note that we do not accept AMEX.
Change of Contact Details
It’s important to inform the practice immediately if there are any changes to your contact details. Failure to do so may result in us being unable to provide you with essential information and updates related to your care.
Cancellation of Courses of Treatment
If a course of treatment is canceled for any reason, we will make every reasonable effort to notify you as soon as possible. Our maximum liability will be limited to a refund of any advance payment fee only. Refunds will be processed via bank transfer. We will not accept liability for any additional costs or losses incurred due to treatment cancellation. We reserve the right to adjust arrangements for the delivery of a treatment plan and will make reasonable efforts to inform patients in advance.
Cancellation by the Patient
You can cancel a booked course of treatment and receive a full refund for any treatment not yet performed, as long as you provide us with at least 24 hours’ notice.
If we do not receive 24 hours’ notice, we reserve the right to withhold the deposit for the appointment.
This policy does not apply to NHS appointments, although we reserve the right to discontinue future NHS care.
If you wish to discontinue treatment at any time, we require a 14-day notice period. After this, you may be eligible for a refund of any amount paid for treatments you did not receive.
For treatments involving laboratory work (e.g., crowns, bridges, dentures), if any work has already been started or completed by the laboratory, a portion of the fee paid during the preparation appointment will be retained to cover the laboratory costs.
Please note that for NHS treatment, the proportion of the fee retained is determined by the NHS Business Services Authority, not by Smile Dental Care.
Refunds
Refunds will be processed within 31 days after we receive your written request, either by email or post.
If you have paid for services not yet provided (appointments canceled with more than 24 hours’ notice), and the service does not involve a laboratory fee, we will either credit your account or refund you via bank transfer.
At Smile Dental Care, we maintain a strict payment policy to ensure that all dental treatments are paid for in full prior to completion.
The treating dentist will determine whether full payment is required before the treatment begins. Payments can be made by cash, debit card, or credit card. Card payments can also be processed over the phone.
In the event that fees are not paid, the practice will notify the patient via email or letter about the outstanding balance and refer to our payment policy.
If payment is not received within 28 days, a second reminder will be sent requesting immediate payment. If there is still no response or payment within the following seven days, a third letter/email will be issued, warning that the patient may lose their right to be seen at the practice.
Should payment remain unpaid after an additional 24-hour period, we will engage a debt recovery company to recover the outstanding debt.
We actively involve all our patients in every aspect of their dental care and as a practice, we aim to carry out the following;
To ensure discussions take place in an environment where conversations are not overheard, and every effort is made to ensure the patient feels comfortable and relaxed.
To identify whether communication aids are required, including the use of interpreters, to ensure that the patient fully understands explanations and discussions and can make informed choices.
To identify patient treatment needs and treatment options, identifying also what they can do to manage their care.
To discuss all care and treatment options, providing enough information on any risks involved and potential consequences of each option and, where possible, identifying relevant evidence, research, or experience.
To record discussions in the patient’s notes identifying the treatment needs, options discussed and patient’s choice.
To record the reason for and outcome of diagnostic tests and assessments are explained to the patient. These include, for example, radiographs, vitality tests, periodontal indices, and pathology tests.
To ensure all staff at the practice understand the principles of patient confidentiality and routinely follow the practice procedure for ensuring the confidentiality of patient information.
At Smile Dental Care, we value our patients’ feedback and continuously learn from their experiences. We ensure communication with patients is courteous, friendly, and professional.
We provide the standard of care that we ourselves would expect to receive. Our goal is to ensure that all patients are fully informed about our services, their treatments, and the associated costs.
We may refer patients for additional professional advice or treatment when appropriate, and we are dedicated to keeping our professional skills and knowledge up to date.
In our practice, we will:
Respect patient confidentiality at all times
Strive to ensure patients wait no longer than 20 minutes to be seen
Manage our appointment system to ensure treatment appointments are booked no more than 2 weeks ahead
Handle every telephone call promptly, ensuring callers are not kept on hold without first understanding the reason for their call
Address correspondence within 3 days of receipt
Provide a treatment plan and cost estimate for each new course of treatment, ensuring full and specific consent is obtained
Make patients aware of our payment policy, ensuring all payment requests are made courteously
Make our complaints policy known to patients, treating all complaints sympathetically and following the agreed procedures
Maintain the highest standards of infection control throughout the practice
Provide emergency treatment during practice hours as soon as reasonably possible
Our aim is to deliver the highest quality care in a friendly, professional environment.
It is inevitable that sometimes you may need to cancel or rearrange your dental appointments.
We would ask patients to give as much notice as possible when cancelling an appointment so we have the opportunity to offer it to someone else although we do understand that during an emergency this is not always possible. Non-attendance and cancellations at short notice without a valid reason deprive other patients of our services.
Appointments are often wasted as people do not attend. These appointments could have been used by other patients.
After ‘two’ failed to attend e-mails we will advise you that we will no longer be able to book further appointments unless you go privately or re-join the NHS waiting list. (Private Appointments require a deposit in order to book the appointment)
If booking in for NHS treatment we require a deposit in order to book the appointment. This is will be an advance payment depending on the Band your treatment comes under.
An appointment is considered to have been broken if any of the following occur:
the patient fails to show up for the appointment,
the patient appears more than 10 minutes late for a scheduled appointment, or
the patient calls to cancel an appointment with too little advance notice to allow that appointment time to be rescheduled with another patient (24-48 hours will be considered to be the minimum time necessary to avoid a broken appointment).
Patients who wish to cancel dental appointments must do so a minimum of 24 hours in advance of their scheduled appointment. If less notice is given without a valid excuse, the appointment will be considered to have been broken.
Cold sores are common and caused by the herpes simplex virus, which is contagious and can spread through direct contact. They usually appear as small, ulcer-like patches around the lip line and can develop rapidly, typically taking anywhere from 7 days to 4 weeks to heal, depending on the severity. From the moment they begin to appear until they are fully healed, cold sores pose a risk of transmission to others.
At Smile Dental Care, we ask that if you have a cold sore that is less than 2 weeks old, you please reschedule any non-emergency dental treatments or hygienist appointments until the contagious period has passed. This is to prevent spreading the virus and because your lips may be sore and at risk of cracking or bleeding during treatment.
If you require urgent dental treatment (for example, if you’re in pain and need immediate attention), our dentists will ask that you protect the cold sore with a cold sore plaster to reduce the risk of cross-infection.
If you do have a cold sore and need to reschedule a dental or hygienist appointment, please contact the practice as soon as possible. You will not be charged a late cancellation fee for canceling due to a cold sore.
Our priority is your health and safety, and we appreciate your cooperation in helping us minimize any risks.
If you believe you are experiencing a dental emergency, you will be assessed at the point of contact, either over the phone or in person at reception. Please note, toothaches are not considered dental emergencies (see below for emergency definitions). The practice is not obligated to see patients solely for toothache pain.
At Smile Dental Care, we will make every effort to see patients with pain, swelling, or trauma within 48 hours of initial contact, where possible. This applies to patients who have regular check-ups with us. If we are at full capacity, we will refer you to another service for appropriate care.
For patients currently undergoing treatment, if you experience pain or swelling, we will offer an appointment within 48 hours of initial contact.
During out-of-hours, you can access help and advice 24/7 through the NHS 111 service. Please note, emergency coverage outside of our usual hours may involve a rota system with other registered private practices across the UK, so we cannot guarantee that your usual provider will be available.
Definition of Emergency
Fractured Jaws: This can affect speech, prevent teeth from meeting properly, cause swelling inside the mouth, and limit mobility, often following an accident or blow to the chin.
Uncontrolled Bleeding: Any bleeding that cannot be controlled by applying firm, continuous pressure from a pack for 10 minutes may require suturing. This often occurs after extraction, due to infection, or when affected by alcohol, aspirin, or certain drugs.
Loss of Consciousness: Any loss of consciousness, no matter how brief, may indicate internal brain damage that needs immediate investigation. This can happen following a blow to the head or an accident. (In this case, please go to your nearest A&E department.)
Your health and well-being are our top priority, and we’re here to support you in case of a dental emergency.
Due to high demand for NHS dental services and our limited capacity, it is important to keep up with your regular dental appointments to remain an active patient. If a patient has not attended for over 2 years, they will be removed from our current NHS patient list and may need to join a waiting list.
We recommend booking your next appointment before leaving the practice to ensure you don’t forget. We will make every effort to remind you of your upcoming appointments via phone, text, or email, depending on the contact preferences you have provided. Additionally, please keep us informed if your contact details change, such as moving to a new address, so we can continue to communicate with you effectively.
At Smile Dental Care, we want to ensure you receive the care you need in a timely manner, so we appreciate your cooperation in keeping your details up to date.
We welcome all NHS fee-paying patients, depending on our capacity. Please inquire about our NHS waiting list for further details.
Non-Discrimination
At Smile Dental Care, we do not refuse treatment to anyone based on:
Race
Religion
Gender
Age
Sexual orientation
Appearance
Disability
Medical or dental condition
NHS-Exempt Treatments
We offer NHS-exempt treatments for the following categories:
Patients who claim low-income benefits
Children under 18 years of age
Patients under 19 years old who are in full-time education
Pregnant patients or those who have had a baby within the last 12 months
If you do not fall into any of the above categories, you will be considered a fee-paying patient.
NHS Patients
NHS patients will be asked to sign a form at the start and end of their treatment. Patients who are exempt from paying NHS fees will need to provide proof of their benefits.
Please Note: You will not be exempt from paying if you receive:
Incapacity Benefit
Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
Contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Council Tax Benefit
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit savings credit (when received alone)
Medical conditions do not exempt you from payment for dental treatment.
Continuity of Care
When you book your first appointment, you will be informed of which dentist will be seeing you. For subsequent appointments, you will be offered the first available dentist unless you request a specific one. We will do our best to accommodate your preference.
Some of our practices only have one dentist, but in cases where a locum dentist needs to be placed (due to illness or holidays), we will inform you of any changes to your care.
At Smile Dental Care, we are committed to providing quality care and ensuring a seamless experience for all of our patients.
Smile Dental Clinic gives you a reason to keep smiling and to feel confident about it!
We also offer treatments that improve the appearance of your smile – giving you the confidence boost you deserve.
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