Patient Rights

• You have the right to considerate, respectful, and timely care without discrimination.
• You have the right to privacy concerning your dental treatment. Discussions concerning your care will remain confidential between you, your dental student, attending specialty residents (if any) and the supervising faculty. No information will be disclosed regarding your treatment without your prior written authorization unless required by law.
• You have the right to current and complete information concerning the diagnosis and treatment of your dental condition, including its prognosis, in terms you can understand.
• You have the right to know the detailed treatment plan, alternatives, risks and benefits concerning your dental condition, along with the estimated cost of such treatment, sufficient to give us your signed informed consent before any treatment is started.
• You have the right to refuse treatment suggested for you and the right to know the risks of refusal.
• You have the right to expect that your care meets the Standards of Care of the dental profession.
• You have the right to prompt treatment and continuing care after you have reached a maintenance level including follow-up care.
• You have the right to request a transfer to another student if you are dissatisfied with your student doctor. However, requests to be transferred to another student on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnic or national origin are generally not honored. Requests for transfer must be made through the Patient Representative in the Office of Clinical Affairs.
• You have the right to continuity and completion of your dental treatment. At the completion of active care, there will be a post treatment review to assess your case. Your record will be placed on maintenance status in the Preventive Dentistry System of the School of Dentistry. At periodic maintenance visits (usually every three to six months), you will be given a thorough examination of your mouth and your teeth will be cleaned. Care will be provided by a duty student. A patient who develops new treatment needs will be reassigned to a student doctor.
• You have the right to emergency care as needed.
• You have the right to access your dental records upon request and to have the information explained or interpreted.
• You have the right to request and examine any financial statement regarding your treatment.
• You have the right to be treated in a safe and clean environment. This includes the expectation of compliance with infection control standards and a smoke-free environment.
• You have the right to access a Patient Representative.

Patient Responsibilities

• You have the responsibility to provide, to the best of your knowledge, complete and accurate information regarding your present health, past illnesses and hospitalizations, medications, dental concerns, and any other matters pertaining to your health.
• You have the responsibility to report any changes in your health since your last appointment with your student dentist.
• You have the responsibility to inform your student dentist if you do not fully understand your dental condition, the proposed treatment to be rendered, the risks and benefits associated with the proposed treatment and alternatives to your proposed treatment, and associated fees.
• You have the responsibility to follow the recommended instructions, including preventive home care techniques and follow-up treatment, given to you by your student dentist or supervising faculty member.
• § You have the responsibility to be prompt for your scheduled appointments and to be available for treatment at least once every two weeks until your treatment is complete. If you are unable to make a scheduled appointment please contact your student via their voice messaging system.
• You have the responsibility to discharge your financial obligations to the School of Dentistry. This includes disclosing information for changes in insurance carries or discontinuation of insurance.
• Although it is your right to refuse proposed treatment, you bear the responsibility for any damage to your teeth or untoward reactions that may result from the refusal of treatment.
• You are responsible for asking questions when you do not understand information or instructions given to you.

Questions or concerns regarding treatment or student assignment should be referred to the Patient Representative at (215) 707-2880.