We’ll begin by discussing your expectations and addressing any concerns you may have. Dr Christensen will then carry out a thorough examination of your facial structure, taking into consideration your bite, tooth alignment, health of the soft tissues and jaw function.
Good communication is at the heart of our approach to orthodontics.
Dr Christensen will take time to discuss what he has observed and talk over your treatment options. From the earliest stage, you’ll be fully informed of what to expect during and after your treatment, how long it will take, and what the cost will be.
Each patient will receive their own individual assessment. This will address any particular concerns you have raised and can also be forwarded to your dentist, if you wish.
Any treatment will begin with an appointment during which digital images of your face and teeth will be produced as a diagnostic record. We’ll also take dental impressions and X-rays to help us create a personalised Treatment Plan. We’ll then make necessary appointments to carry out the work itself.
This practice complies with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations – May 2018) and this policy describes our procedures for ensuring that personal information about patients is processed fairly and lawfully.
What personal data do we hold?
In order to provide you with a high standard of dental care and attention, we need to hold personal information about you. This personal data comprises:
Why do we hold information about you?
We need to keep comprehensive and accurate personal data about our patients in order to provide them with safe and appropriate dental care.
How we process the data
We will process personal data that we hold about you in the following way:
Retaining information
We will retain your dental records while you are a practice patient and after you cease to be a patient, for at least eleven years or for children until age 25, whichever is the longer.
Security of information
Personal data about you is held in the practice’s computer system and/or in a manual filing system. The information is not accessible to the public and only authorised members of staff have access to it. Our computer system has secure audit trails and we back up information routinely.
Disclosure of information
In order to provide proper and safe dental care, we may need to disclose personal information about you to:
Disclosure will take place on a ‘need-to-know’ basis, so that only those individuals/organisations who need to know in order to provide care to you and for the proper administration of Government (whose personnel are covered by strict confidentiality rules) will be given the information. Only that information that the recipient needs to know will be disclosed.
In very limited circumstances or when required by law or a court order, personal data may have to be disclosed to a third party not connected with your health care. In all other situations, disclosure that is not covered by this Code of Practice will only occur when we have your specific consent. Where possible you will be informed of these requests for disclosure.
Access
You have the right of access to the data that we hold about you and to receive a copy in an acceptable readable format. Access may be obtained by making a request in writing. We will provide a copy of the record within one month of receipt of the request and an explanation of your record should you require it.
If you do not agree
If you do not wish personal data that we hold about you to be disclosed or used in the way that is described in this Code of Practice, please discuss the matter with your orthodontist. You have the right to object, but this may affect our ability to provide you with dental care.
In order to keep your records accurate – please advise us of any change in your Contact or Medical Details