Policies

We aim to provide quality dentistry in a caring, professional atmosphere. Please read All Smiles policies below that ensure we give you the best care possible.

Information gathering

We use an electronic registration system to gather and update information about our patients. If you prefer, you can complete this using paper.

It is very important for us to have accurate information about medical history/ medications to ensure we protect you, as this can have implications for your dental treatment. We have a responsibility to provide a high standard of care and can only do this based on the information you give us.

Financial and credit

Estimated costs and treatment may vary due to clinical issues which may arise during treatment, you will be advised of changes to the treatment plan or costs before the next stage of treatment.

All services must be paid for immediately following each appointment. We accept payment in the form of cash, cheque, EFTPOS, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Q Card with interest free terms and Southern Cross Easy claim. Please note that a 3% surcharge applies for all credit card and paywave transactions.

If you have financial restrictions relating to your treatment please advise us prior to the commencement of your treatment.

Where agreed payment terms have not been met, debt collection and/or legal proceedings may follow. A late payment fee of $50 will be invoiced to accounts with outstanding balances. If an account is not paid within 30 days after the due date, our debt recovery agency may charge you a fee equal to 25% of the unpaid portion of the price & other legal & recovery costs not covered by the fee, but not less than $50. The account may also be recorded on the credit information database held by Baycorp Business Information Services.

Interest at 2% monthly and bank costs, will be charged on any overdue payments and uncleared cheques.

Cancellation Policy

Cancelling or failing to appear for an appointment can mean we are unable to utilise that time to help another patient in need. We require 48 hours notice if you need to reschedule an appointment. If this notice is not given, you may incur a late cancellation fee of $95.

In fairness to other scheduled patients we will not alway see patients who have arrived more than 10 minutes late for their appointment.

Before & After School Appointments

The most frequently requested appointment times are before and after school hours. In order to accommodate as many of our patients into our busy schedule, these prime appointment times are reserved for short appointments while longer visits (i.e insertion or removal of orthodontic appliances) are scheduled during the middle of the day.

Modification To Treatment Plan

At All Smiles we aim to provide you with the best possible treatment. However due to the nature of the biological disease processes that we treat we are unable to guarantee that all treatment we are providing will be successful in all situations.

In the event that treatment does not meet desired outcomes we may advise you to see a specialist who will undertake further care of your condition and do so at their normal professional schedule of fees. Any remedial care provided by us in the event of failure of treatment will be provided at a reduced cost wherever possible.

While we can appreciate the frustrations that come with treatment that is not as desired, please understand that the conditions we often treat are in many instances due to many years of progressive deterioration of the health of a tooth and or gums and the consequences of such deterioration are not always avoidable by the care we provide. We do promise that we will always do our best with the situation that presents itself when we see you and will keep you informed throughout the treatment process.

Treatment Consent

A number of procedures require specific consent. If consent is needed for your treatment we will help you understand why it is needed and provide information to help you make an informed decision. In some cases we will need you to sign a consent form before commencement of treatment.

Contact Consent

All Smiles Dental understands the importance of personal privacy. As health care providers, we are required to obtain details of a personal nature, including but not limited to, your contact details, medical history and dental history. From time to time, we may need to pass this information on to third parties (as approved by you) for example with specialist referrals or for ACC lodgement etc. We will only pass your information on in this regard following prior verbal approval by you to do so.

All Smiles Dental also sends out an occasional email newsletter (no more than 4 times per year) which we may send to you with details of new technologies, changes to business services etc. You may choose to opt out of this newsletter correspondence at any time.

Filming on Premises

Here at All Smiles we regard the safety of our staff members and patients highly. We have cameras fitted to the internal and external walls of the building.

Health and Disability Consumer Rights

Your rights as a health care consumer are covered by the Health and Disability Consumers rights. All Smiles supports these rights and wishes to act accordingly. If you have any concerns related to your treatment or costs please discuss these with us.

You are not entitled to a refund if treatment fails due to clinical risks explained in advance of treatment and to which you have consented.

Supply of goods for personal use will be covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

Variations to All Smiles policies may occur and we will notify you to any changes in our reception area and on our website.