These Terms of Business apply to private treatment and services provided by Castleton Dental. They are designed to help us manage our appointments and services effectively while allowing us to provide a high standard of care to all our patients.

By booking an appointment with Castleton Dental, you agree to the terms set out below.

If you have any questions regarding these terms, please contact our team on 01252 715576.

Booking Fee Policy

To help us manage our appointment diary effectively and ensure appointments remain available for patients who need them, a booking fee may be required for selected consultations and treatment appointments.

Booking Fees

A booking fee may be requested when arranging certain appointments. The amount payable will be confirmed at the time of booking and should be paid within 48 hours to secure your appointment. Where payment is not received within this timeframe, we reserve the right to release the appointment. Your booking fee will be credited towards the cost of your treatment when you attend your appointment. If Castleton Dental needs to cancel your appointment and a suitable alternative cannot be arranged, any booking fee paid will be refunded in full.
 

Cancelling an Appointment with a Booking Fee

Booking fees will be refunded or transferred to a rearranged appointment where the required notice is provided in accordance with our Cancellation & Missed Appointment Policy below. Where an appointment is cancelled without the required notice, or the patient does not attend, some or all of the booking fee may be retained. Any amount retained will be reasonable and proportionate to the appointment time reserved and the losses incurred by the practice as a result of the late cancellation or non-attendance.
 

Cancellation & Missed Appointment Policy

We appreciate that plans can occasionally change. If you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment, we kindly ask that you provide as much notice as possible. General dental and hygiene appointments: A minimum of 48 hours' notice is required.

Appointments with Dr Caoimhe Doherty: A minimum of 7 days' notice is required due to the nature of these appointments and the clinical time and resources allocated. Appointments cancelled without the required notice, or appointments that are not attended, may incur a reasonable cancellation or missed appointment charge. The amount charged will depend on factors including the length and type of appointment, the clinical time reserved and the costs or losses incurred by the practice. Where we are able to refill the appointment or otherwise reduce our loss, this will be taken into consideration when determining whether a charge is appropriate.

We understand that exceptional circumstances can arise and these will be considered at the discretion of the Practice Manager.

Any outstanding fees relating to appointments or treatment must normally be settled before further non-urgent appointments can be booked.
 

Where a patient repeatedly fails to attend appointments or regularly cancels without the required notice, Castleton Dental may review whether we are able to continue providing routine care. Any decision will take into account the individual circumstances and our professional obligations towards the patient.

Zero Tolerance Policy

Castleton Dental is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and respectful environment for our patients, visitors and team.

We will not tolerate abusive, threatening, discriminatory, intimidating or violent behaviour towards members of our team, other patients or visitors.
 

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Physical aggression, violence or intimidation.

• Threats or threatening behaviour.

• Verbal abuse, harassment or discriminatory language.

• Abusive or threatening telephone calls, emails, messages or other written communications.

• Deliberate damage to practice property.

Incidents will be considered according to their nature and severity. Appropriate action may include a warning, ending an interaction or appointment where it is safe and clinically appropriate to do so, restricting future contact, or reviewing whether the practice is able to continue providing non-emergency care.

Serious incidents, including threats of violence or physical aggression, may be reported to the police or other appropriate authorities.

Where Castleton Dental considers ending the professional relationship with a patient, this will be managed appropriately and in accordance with our professional obligations and the patient's clinical circumstances.

We thank all our patients for treating our team with the same courtesy, kindness and respect that we aim to provide every day.

Treatment Costs

We aim to provide clear information about the cost of your dental care before treatment begins.

Where appropriate, you will be provided with a written treatment plan setting out the proposed treatment and estimated fees. If your treatment plan or anticipated costs change during the course of treatment, we will discuss this with you and provide updated information where appropriate. Fees for private dental treatment are available on our website and from the practice.

Changes to These Terms

Castleton Dental may update these Terms of Business from time to time to reflect changes to our services, policies, professional guidance or legal requirements.

The most current version will be published on our website.

Last updated: September 2026