Dental Patient Bill of Rights

Maintaining healthy teeth and gums means more than just brushing and flossing every day and visiting your dentist regularly. It also means knowing your rights as a patient. With this in mind, the Pennsylvania Dental Association adopted this Dental Patient Bill of Rights in 1998.

• You have a right to schedule an appointment with the dentist of your choice.
• You have a right to see the dentist every time you receive dental treatment.
• You have a right to ask about treatment alternatives and be told, in language you can understand, the advantages and disadvantages of each.
• You have a right to know the education and training of your dentist and the dental team.
• You have a right to know in advance the type and expected cost of treatment.
• You have a right to expect dental team members to use appropriate infection and sterilization controls.
• You have a right to ask your dentist to explain all the treatment options, regardless of coverage or cost.
• You have a right to be treated in a professional and ethical manner by your dentist and dental team.

It’s always been the aim of PDA and its member dentists to provide you with the most current information available on dental care — including the quality of treatment you’re entitled to — and to help you speak up for it.

This document is also available in Spanish.