At best this could mean a poor treatment experience or a hefty bill for work that does not meet your expectations; at worst it could cause serious illness or injury.
That’s why here at Ollie & Darsh we were shocked to read the story of a beauty salon owner in Dundee who offered tooth whitening alongside spray tanning, back massagers and other beauty treatments, despite not having a license to practice dentistry.
You can read the full story here, but at the time of her offence her website said the treatments were undertaken by a “fully registered dentist” yet this week she admitted practicing dentistry without a license under the Dentists Act of 1984.
Professional Credentials
We pride ourselves on our professional credentials and high standard of client care, and we go to great lengths to ensure anyone who walks through the doors of Ollie & Darsh is treated safely, with care and consideration, by a fully qualified and fully registered clinician – that way they always walk out a happy and satisfied customer.
Picking a dentist is an important choice that can impact your health and confidence – positively or negatively – so make sure you find the best by following our top tips for finding a great dentist.
Top Five Tips For Picking a Great Dentist
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Check the practice is registered with the General Dental Council (GDC)
This is a must, as it is illegal to practice dentistry in the UK without being registered with the GDC. Don’t just check on your dentist’s website check if it dentist is registered on the GDC website too – we put all of our team’s GDC numbers in their profiles so you can search using that. As well as regulating dental professionals the GDC is also the place you can go to make justified complaints.
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Check the practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission
A good dentist will also be registered with the Care Quality Commission, which is a body responsible for checking that medical, dental and care services meet national standards.
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Check your dentist’s qualifications
To be awarded their Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS/BChD) a dentist must have completed five years of undergraduate training, but it doesn’t end there. Good dentists will be dedicated to a programme of continuing professional learning and development after qualifying. A quality dentist will be up to date with new tools, technology and techniques and will be members of other professional associations, for example Ollie is President of the ESAO. If you can’t find the information you need on your dentist’s website, call and ask. We’d have no problem filling you in on Ollie, Darsh and the team’s professional qualifications as we’re very proud of them!
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Find out about other patient’s experiences
A dentist’s website may talk about how great their service and treatments are, but the best measure of a great dentist is what their clients say about them. We’re proud to have fantastic testimonials from many of our customers, including Joanna Aicher, who had veneers at the clinic and Eno Effiong who received the Six Month Smiles® treatment with us. Testimonials and case studies will not just demonstrate the level of care, but they may also help you decide what kind of treatment you would prefer.
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Talk to your dentist and take your time
A professional and quality dentist will never rush or pressure you into making decisions. You should be able to discuss your treatment options, ask questions and request demonstrations and then be allowed time to absorb the information and make a decision. Ollie & Darsh do this by starting every new relationship with a customer with a free consultation to discuss their problems and help them to find the right solution.