Dental consent guide (UK practices)
A concise checklist-style guide for teams who want consent that stands up to professional, regulatory, and indemnity scrutiny. This is general information, not legal advice.
- 1
Establish dialogue
Consent is ongoing. Explain the proposed treatment in plain language, invite questions, and check understanding — not only at the first visit.
- 2
Cover material information
Include benefits, material risks, reasonable alternatives (including no treatment), and costs. What counts as “material” depends on the patient and the procedure.
- 3
Record capacity and support
Where relevant, note how capacity was assessed and any support given. Follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (England & Wales) or your jurisdiction’s rules.
- 4
Document and retain
Keep dated records of what was discussed and agreed. Signed forms support evidence but do not replace good notes of the conversation.
Digital consent
Sending structured, UK-aware information for the patient to read and sign can strengthen the record — provided the clinical conversation still happens and the record reflects it. Choose tools that fit your governance and indemnifier.
Treatment-Specific Consent Examples
Try SmileConsent
AI-generated consent text, multiple treatments, and digital signing — built for UK dental teams.