Clarity is crucial in charging claims Post date: 14/07/2014 | Time to read article: 1 mins The information within this article was correct at the time of publishing. Last updated 14/11/2018 () ★ Communicate Consent Generic Dentistry Issues & Conflict Management Just because you understand something doesn't mean the patient does too. Ensure there are no misunderstandings to prevent payment headaches... A patient who was being treated under a state-funded dental scheme received a bill for private treatment provided by both the dentist and hygienist. Both had thought the patient understood that treatment was being provided outside of the state scheme. The patient did not agree. There was no written evidence of the consent process and the issue came down to the word of the patient against that of the dentist and hygienist. The dentist agreed to charge the patient the equivalent fee charged by the state-funded scheme and the patient did not return. Learning point: Always make sure the nature of the contract is clear to the patient and keep written evidence. These case studies are based on real events and provided here as guidance. They do not constitute legal advice but are published to help members better understand how they might deal with certain situations. This is just one of the many benefits dental members enjoy as part of their subscription. For more detailed advice on any issues, contact us Share this article Share Tweet