UNC School of Dentistry

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Dental Faculty Practice

Patient Rights & Responsibilities

Putting the Patient First

At the Dental Faculty Practice we never forget that the patient is the focus.  From our friendly greeting when our patients arrive through careful diagnosis and treatment, we concentrate on learning about each of our patients and providing the very best in individualized care.  We look forward to welcoming you as a patient.  For more information please call 919-966-2115.

Your Rights as a Patient

You as a Person...We strive to recognize and respect your dignity. You should expect to be treated with consideration and respect regardless of your race, creed, national origin, age, disability, gender, or income level.

Services You Need...The DFP provides our patients with diagnostic and treatment services consistent with the urgency of their needs. As a patient, you will be informed of the types of services the DFP can and cannot provide for you. You will be informed of your need for, and the availability of, appointments. If your relationship with the DFP ends, for whatever reason, we will inform you of any further treatment needs.

Understanding Your Plan of Care...You are entitled to a clear explanation of your oral condition, the treatment(s) recommended, the alternatives to treatment(s), any possible risks involved with the treatment(s) proposed, the estimated costs, who will provide your care, and approximately how long the treatment may take. If any complication(s) develop during treatment that could alter the treatment plan, the nature of the complication(s) will be explained to you.

Consent and Refusal of Treatment...You have the right to participate in making decisions about your dental treatment and to have your questions answered before beginning any course of treatment. Any treatment you receive will meet appropriate standards of care. You have the right to refuse treatment at the DFP in which case, you will be notified as to the possible results of refusing treatment.

Confidentiality...Your treatment will be discussed with as much consideration as possible for your privacy. Information from your treatment record will not be released without your written permission, except as required by law or for the purposes of an insurance contract.

Your Responsibilities as a Patient

Your responsibilities as a patient or as the parent/guardian of a patient in our practice are:

• To be considerate and respectful of other patients, and the staff of the Dental Faculty Practice.
• To share complete and accurate information about your medical and dental history including: previous illnesses, hospitalizations, exposure to communicable diseases, medications you are taking, allergies, and any current medical care you are receiving.
• To inform us of any changes in your general health condition, and to inform us if you experience any unusual or unexpected discomfort or any complications following a treatment procedure.
• To ask questions in order to better understand the nature of your oral conditions and the treatment provided.
• To follow instructions given about your care.
• To keep your scheduled appointments or give us advance notice if you must cancel an appointment.
• To pay for all services at the time the services are provided unless other arrangements have been made through the Patient Accounting Office.