The Eighth District Dental Society provides assistance to dentists and patients in resolving complaints regarding treatment and ethical standards of dental practice. The public is welcome to call the Dental Society (716) 995-6300 in advance of visiting a dentist in order to ascertain whether the dentist is a member of the Dental Society and adheres to the high standards of organized dentistry.

Ethical Conduct
Members of the Eighth District Dental Society are committed to the principles of the Code of Ethics of the American Dental Association and the New York State Dental Association. Complaints regarding the ethical conduct of member dentists may be directed in writing to the Council on Ethics, Eighth District Dental Society, 3831 Harlem Road, Buffalo, NY 14215. The public may obtain a free copy of the Code of Ethics by contacting the Dental Society also.

Upon receipt of a complaint regarding ethical conduct, the Council on Ethics contacts the dentist and the individual registering the complaint in order to determine the facts regarding the complaint. If a dentist is determined to be in violation of the Code of Ethics, the dentist is advised of the corrective action required and the dentist is requested to comply with the corrective action.

If the dentist does not comply with the corrective action, the complaint is presented to the Council on Ethics of the New York State Dental Association. Failure by a dentist to comply with a directive from the NYSDA Council on Ethics could result in expulsion from the Dental Society. Both the dentist and the individual registering the complaint are informed regarding the outcome.

If the determination by the Council on Ethics is that there has not been a violation of the Code of Ethics by the dentist, the individual registering the complaint and the dentist are informed that the complaint has been dismissed.

Quality of Treatment
The Eighth District Dental Society offers an alternative to costly litigation in resolving complaints regarding the quality of care and/or appropriateness of treatment provided by a member dentist. Patients may submit a complaint to the Council on Peer Review of the Eighth District Dental Society, 3831 Harlem Road, Buffalo, NY 14215 or by contacting Jennifer Kapinos at (716) 995-6300.

The Council on Peer Review will consider complaints from patients who comply with the following:
                 1. Complaints submitted against a member of the Dental Society
                 2. Treatment which was completed within the past 2 1/2 years
                 3. Complaints which are not in the process of being litigated
                 4. Complaints which are not in collection

A complete description of the Peer Review process and the conditions for a complaint to be considered by the Council on Peer Review are available upon request from the Dental Society.

Upon the completion of The Agreement to Submit to Peer Review by both the patient and dentist, a mediator is assigned to attempt to resolve the complaint. If mediation is unsuccessful, a hearing will be held at which the patient may present his/her complaint in person; the hearing panel may also conduct a clinical examination of the patient.

In submitting to the Peer Review process, both the dentist and the patient agree to accept the outcome of the process. All dentists who are members of the Dental Society agree to participate in the Peer Review process as a condition to membership in the Society.

Non-Member Dentists
As licensed professionals, all dentists are accountable to the New York State Department of Education’s Division of Professional Licensing Services. Complaints about the quality of treatment or ethical conduct of non-members of the Dental Society may be directed to the State Office of Professional Discipline at (800) 442-8106.