The SmileDIR will be used to bring direct benefits to patients by:
- improving patient awareness of the outcomes of dental implants used to replace missing or loose teeth.
- finding out how long the different implant replacements last
- helping to identify individual patients who have received an implant if there is a need for urgent clinical review.
The SmileDIR will also be used to bring additional long-term benefits by:
- providing feedback to dental surgeons and teams to help maintain high clinical standards
- promoting open publication of the performance of implants
- providing feedback on implant performance to regulatory authorities
- providing feedback to suppliers about the performance of their implants
- monitoring and comparing the performance of dental centres.
This registry has the potential to greatly advance the art of dental implantology, benefiting patients, dentists and manufacturers alike
The information required by the SmileDIR includes your personal details and your operation details. It will link you to the implant(s) you receive as well as linking any future joint implant surgery you may have. If the performance of any implant is identified as being a problem, having your personal details in the DIR will make it easier to notify you.
Recording your personal details will also give the DIR the opportunity to invite you to participate in a patient feedback survey. The survey will give you the chance to express your views on whether your quality of life has been improved by the surgery your received.
Giving consent for your personal details to be held in the Smile DIR is voluntary, but for the DIR to be most effective it needs to collect as many records as possible that include patient personal details. These details include:
- surname
- forename
- date of birth
- gender
- home address postcode
- NHS number
- email address
The DIR needs your consent to record these details to abide by the Data Protection act (1998). If you do not give your consent, only details of your operation and the implants you receive will be recorded.
The DIR Patient Consent form is used to confirm whether you have agreed to have your personal details recorded on the DIR database.
If you give your consent and then change your mind, you may revoke this permission at any time by contacting the DIR Centre. If you do not give your consent, data about your operation will be entered but without any personal details attached. This will help to ensure that individual operation details are not traceable back to you.
How do I give my consent?
To give your consent you will need to complete an DIR Patient Consent form and return it to your hospital.
If you have any questions, concerns or need further information on the DIR or your rights under the Data Protection act (1998), please contact the Smile DIR Centre.
SmileDIR maintains an online registry of components used in dental implants placed in patients. This registry is accessible to only those dentists who have access to the website and who have provided dental services to you or are about to provide dental services to you. The website is secured and controlled by passwords and only the dentists to whom you provide consent are allowed access to the website.
Personal Information is information that can be used to identify a specific individual. The dentist who performs a dental implant for you will, with your consent, register your name, address, date of birth, gender, date of the implant procedure, informatin on your dental health and details of the dental implants used to treat you. This will enable dentists who later treat you, or are about to treat you, to have access to accurate information about the implants previously used in treating you.
This personal information will be maintained in a secure database by SmileDIR and only disclosed to those dentists who have your consent to receive that information.
Upon request, your personal information will be made available to you and corrected if deemed necessary. SmileDIR is committed to ensuring that the personal information of patients is protected in accordance with applicable National legislation.
