Using Your Dentist
How do I complain about my dentist?
By The Local Dentist Editorial · Updated 15 July 2026
Start with the practice
Every dental practice must have a complaints procedure — it's a GDC requirement, and most issues resolve at this stage without needing anyone else involved. Ask the practice for their procedure if you don't have it, and put your complaint in writing: what happened, when, and what you'd like to happen next. Attach anything useful — the treatment plan, receipts, photos, and any earlier correspondence. Give the practice a reasonable chance to respond before escalating; most run their own internal review and many will offer to redo work, adjust a bill, or explain what went wrong. Staying calm and specific gets better results than an angry phone call, and a written record protects you if you do need to escalate later to the NHS route, the Dental Complaints Service, or the GDC.
If it's NHS treatment
Where the escalation goes depends on where you live. In England, if the practice can't resolve it, complain to the NHS complaints procedure or to the local integrated care board (ICB) that commissions dentistry in your area — details are on nhs.uk. If you're still unhappy, the final step is the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. In Wales, NHS complaints go through 'Putting Things Right' and then, if unresolved, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. In Scotland, complain to your NHS board first, then the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO). In Northern Ireland, complain to the HSC trust, then the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman. Be prompt — NHS complaints are normally expected within 12 months of the event or of you becoming aware of it.
If it's private treatment
Private dental treatment is a consumer contract, so if the practice can't resolve your complaint, take it to the Dental Complaints Service at dcs.gdc-uk.org. It's free, independent, and funded by the GDC specifically to mediate private dental complaints — it can help arrange remedies including refunds, redone treatment, or an apology, without you needing a solicitor. Raise your complaint with the service generally within 12 months of the treatment, or of becoming aware there was a problem. Keep your treatment plan, invoices, and any correspondence with the practice, since the service will ask for these to assess your case. If you paid by credit card, a Section 75 or chargeback claim may also be available for treatment paid for but not provided — see our answer on getting a refund for more detail.
When to involve the GDC
The General Dental Council (gdc-uk.org/raising-concerns) is the right route for serious fitness-to-practise concerns about a specific professional — patient safety, dishonesty, or working outside their registered scope. It's worth being honest about what the GDC can and can't do: it protects the public by investigating and, where necessary, restricting or removing a professional's registration, but it cannot get you a refund or compensation, and it doesn't resolve day-to-day consumer disputes like a poor filling or a disputed bill. For those, the practice, the NHS complaints route, or the Dental Complaints Service are the right places to start — see our answer on what the GDC is for more on its role and how to check a professional's registration.
People Also Ask
Can the GDC give me a refund?
No. The GDC protects the public by investigating serious conduct and safety concerns about individual professionals — it cannot award refunds or compensation. For that, use the Dental Complaints Service (private treatment) or the NHS complaints route (NHS treatment).
How long do I have to complain?
Be prompt. NHS complaints are normally expected within 12 months of the event or of becoming aware of it, and the Dental Complaints Service generally expects complaints within a similar timeframe. Complain as soon as you can, in writing, with your records.
What if the practice doesn't respond to my complaint?
Escalate. For NHS treatment in England, contact your local integrated care board or the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman; for private treatment, contact the Dental Complaints Service at dcs.gdc-uk.org, which is free.
Is the Dental Complaints Service free?
Yes. It's a free, independent mediation service funded by the GDC for private dental complaints, and does not require you to hire a solicitor.
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This article is general information for UK patients, not clinical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on nhs.uk or speak to a dentist before acting. For severe facial swelling affecting breathing/swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma call 999 / go to A&E; otherwise NHS 111 for urgent dental access. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from our methodology.