Patient Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Rights

1. You have a right to receive considerate, respectful and confidential treatment by your dentist and dental team.
2. You have a right to know the education and training of your dentist and the dental care team.
3. If asked to participate in clinical research, you have the right to refuse.
4. You have a right to continuous and comprehensive care and to be informed of continuing dental care needs.
5. You have a right to adequate time to ask questions and receive reasonable answers regarding your dental condition, treatment, procedure or operation plan for your care.
6. You have a right to request and receive an itemized explanation of the cost of treatment.
7. You have a right to an explanation of the purpose, probable results, alternatives and risks involved before consenting to a proposed treatment plan.
8. You have a right to accept, defer, or decline any part of your treatment recommendations.
9. You have a right to reasonable arrangements for dental care and emergency treatment.
10. You have a right to expect the dental team members to use appropriate infection and sterilization controls.

Patient Responsibilities

1. You have the responsibility to provide, to the best of your ability, accurate, honest and complete information about your medical history and current health status.
2. You have the responsibility to report changes in your medical status and provide feedback about your needs and expectations.
3. You have the responsibility to participate in your health care decisions and ask questions if you are uncertain about your dental treatment or plan.
4. You have the responsibility to let us know of any changes to your address or phone number.
5. You have the responsibility to keep your scheduled appointments.
6. You have the responsibility for your actions if you refuse treatment or do not follow the prescripted treatment plan.
7. You have the responsibility to assure that your financial obligations for health care received are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
8. You will be required to present 5-Points of Identification (similar to the NJ Motor Vehicle’s 6 Point ID Verification requirement) at the time you are registered for your initial screening appointment. Please see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information.

Note: This document is distributed to each patient during the screening orientation.

Information about Bloodborne Pathogens is available here.