title: A study of satisfaction with dental services among adults in the United Kingdom.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine satisfaction with dental care services among the UK adult population, and to assess their knowledge regarding the dental complaints procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national survey involving a multi-stage random sampling procedure with face-to-face home interviews of 5,385 UK residents was conducted in 1999.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 69% and 3,739 adults took part in this study. Majority of people (89%) were satisfied with the quality of care they received. Only 2% (76) had actually complained, although 10% (388) had felt like complaining in the past. One third (32%, 1,188) did not know to whom to complain if they had a problem. Among those who knew whom to contact, over a third (36%, 1,359) would contact somebody outside the practice, while another third (31%, 1,169) would contact their dentist or dental practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall most people are satisfied with the quality of dental care they receive. However, 2% have complained and 10% have felt like complaining about their dentist/ dental care. In general, knowledge of the complaints procedure and whom to contact appears fragmented.
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborating Centre for Disability, Culture and Oral health, National Centre for Transcultural Oral Health, Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, University of London. R.Bedi@eastman.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bedi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gulati
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGrath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom