Dental Health Maintenance Plans

At Thornhill Dental, we believe that the best way of making treatment affordable, without compromising our high quality of care, is to offer you a variety of Dental Health Maintenance Plans which are tailored to suit your needs. Our Dental Health Maintenance Plans aim to provide you with the treatment and support necessary to control dental disease and maintain optimum oral health. Our modern health-promoting approach with continuing care means:

• More attractive teeth
• Less dental decay/gum disease
• Less likelihood of toothache
• Fewer fillings
• Increased likelihood of your own teeth for life
• More choice
• Reduced cost

Plan Levels and Fees

Which plan level is right for you?

All of our plans include a huge range of benefits which you can read about across. Each plan offers a different type of hygienist appointment and our entry level plans can be upgraded to include additional hygienist visits.

Our different hygienist appointment types (basic, standard and enhanced) are designed to suit patients with different periodontal classification. Your periodontal classification is assessed based on the health of your gums and can change over time. Your periodontal classification will depend on many factors including your overall dental health, homecare routine, lifestyle, medical conditions and medication you may take. Your dentist and hygienist will discuss this with you and recommend which hygienist appointment type and plan level is best for you in order to meet your periodontal needs.

Plan benefits in detail

• Regular dental health checks* (two per year) to provide:
  • Clinical examination
  • Screening for oral cancer
• Regular appointments with the dental hygienist*(total entitlement varies by plan) for:
  • Periodontal maintenance
  • Periodontal advice
  • Preventative advice and techniques to reduce the risk of decay and gum disease
• Guaranteed access to an emergency assessment at the practice within 24 hours of contact (during normal working hours, Monday—Friday)
  .
• Clinical dental x-rays (up to 2 per year)
• All treatment planning for your future dental needs
• Production of study models if required (1 per year)
• 10% discount for any clinically required treatment including:
  • Laboratory based treatments such as crowns, dentures and bridges
  • fillings and extractions
  • Additional hygienist visits for treatment of periodontal disease
• Eligibility to request assistance from the Worldwide Dental Emergency Assistance Scheme**

*Activates on receipt of the relevant consecutive monthly payments by direct debit

**Please refer to the scheme portal (scheme.wdeas.co.uk/patients) for full details. The Worldwide Dental Emergency Assistance Scheme is a scheme established to offer support and assistance to dental plan patients who request treatment following a dental trauma and/or dental emergency or oral cancer. The scheme responds to requests fro assistance on a wholly discretionary basis. This means that, whilst the scheme aims to provide benefit in most cases, it has no obligation to provide any benefit unless it first decides (in its sole and absolute discretion) that it should provide a benefit. There are some circumstances in which the scheme is not designed to help and these are explained in more detail in the scheme handbook. Each request will be looked at individually to assess the request for benefit. Certain restrictions and limitations may apply in the event that the request is accepted and it is possible that the scheme will decide to provide no benefit.

Benefits of the worldwide dental emergency assistance scheme

If your request for assistance is accepted by the Scheme Manager, you will be eligible to receive benefit payments from the Scheme in the following situations:

• TREATMENT FOLLOWING DENTAL TRAUMA — To assist with the cost of treatment after a dental accident.
• EMERGENCY TEMPORARY DENTAL TREATMENT IN THE UK AND ABROAD – Payment towards emergency temporary treatment when away from your own dentist.
• OUT-OF-HOURS CONSULTATION FOR DENTAL EMERGENCY OR DENTAL TRAUMA — Pays a callout fee to a dentist who opens their surgery to treat you in a dental emergency – Weekends, Bank Holidays and 6.00 pm to 8.00 am weekdays. Pays a fee towards a telephone conversation, where no follow-on treatment/appointment takes place.
• PERMANENT FACIAL DISFIGUREMENT — A specified amount if you suffer permanent facial disfigurement due to a dental trauma.
• HOSPITAL CASH BENEFIT — Pays a benefit per night when staying overnight in hospital under the care of a dental or oral/maxillofacial surgeon.
• ORAL CANCER BENEFIT — A benefit payable when first diagnosed by an expert medical specialist.
• REDUNDANCY — Monthly reimbursement of your plan membership cost, if you are made compulsorily redundant.

For full inclusions, limitations and exclusions of the benefits of the WORLDWIDE DENTAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SCHEME, please see the scheme handbook available online at scheme.wdeas.co.uk/patients

Membership Fees

Membership fees are paid by Direct Debit for your convenience. The monthly membership fee is subject to change but you will be notified in writing should this be the case. For full terms and conditions, please contact Practice Plan customer enquires on 01691 684120.

Emergencies

In case of emergency during practice hours, please contact the practice immediately. We will always endeavour to see genuine emergencies within 24 hours. Each day we reserve appointments for emergencies which are allocated on the day on a first come, first serve basis. If you require one of these appointments, please phone the practice before 9am.

If you have a dental emergency outside practice hours, please telephone the practice where you will hear a message detailing the specific arrangements for the day.

Safety

We take all necessary precautions to safeguard you and our staff. We comply with all regulations with regard to sterilisation of instruments and use of disposable items and are registered with the Care Quality Commission. We are a proud BDA Good Practice Member which shows our commitment to providing you with highest level of care.

How to register

Our Dental Health Maintenance Plans are designed for patients who have achieved dental fitness. New patients must first complete any clinically required treatment in order to achieve dental fitness on a private basis before registering for a Dental Health Maintenance Plan.

Once dental fitness has been achieved, please call in at the practice to complete a Dental Health Maintenance Plan agreement. This will require your signature and bank account details for the Direct Debit Mandate. Direct Debits are collected from your account on the 8th of every month. Any patient enrolling before 27th of the month can request assistance from the Worldwide Dental Emergency Assistance Scheme from the 1st of the following month. Other benefits of the care plan start following receipt of 3 months direct debits.

Pre-existing conditions will not be covered by Dental Health Maintenance Plans. If you have any quires, please ask a member of staff.