Editorial Policy
Last updated: March 2026
Dentora publishes information about dental health, NHS dental costs, treatments, and patient rights in the UK. Because this content can directly affect people’s health and financial decisions, we hold ourselves to a clear set of editorial standards.
This page explains how our content is researched, written, reviewed, and maintained.
Our editorial principles
Accuracy comes first. Every factual claim in our articles — cost figures, eligibility rules, treatment descriptions, policy details — must be traceable to an authoritative source. We don’t publish figures we can’t verify, and we don’t present opinion as fact.
We write for patients, not practitioners. Our audience is UK adults making real decisions about dental care. We avoid unnecessary clinical jargon and, where technical terms are needed, we explain them in plain English.
Independence is non-negotiable. No dental practice, product manufacturer, insurer, or advertiser influences our editorial content. Affiliate relationships and advertising revenue are kept entirely separate from editorial decisions. If we recommend something, it’s because we believe it genuinely serves the reader.
We acknowledge what we don’t know. Where evidence is limited, conflicting, or uncertain, we say so. We don’t overstate findings or make promises that the research doesn’t support.
How we research and write content
Each article on Dentora follows a consistent editorial process:
1. Topic selection and briefing
Articles are selected based on what UK dental patients are actively searching for, gaps in existing online coverage, and relevance to current policy or cost changes. Before writing begins, we produce a content brief covering the target audience, key questions to answer, required sources, and structural outline.
2. Research and sourcing
We use the following source hierarchy:
Primary sources (required for all factual claims):
- NHS.uk and NHS England publications
- NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) — for dental charge rates and exemption rules
- GOV.UK — for policy announcements, consultation responses, and legislation
- NICE clinical guidelines — for treatment and prevention recommendations
- General Dental Council (GDC) — for professional standards and registration
Secondary sources (used for context and analysis):
- British Dental Association (BDA) — for professional commentary and workforce data
- Oral Health Foundation — for patient-facing health information
- Healthwatch England — for patient experience data and access reports
- Peer-reviewed dental journals — for clinical evidence
Sources we avoid:
- Dental practice marketing pages as primary evidence for cost or treatment claims
- Unverified forum posts or social media anecdotes
- Press releases without supporting data
- Any source that cannot be independently verified
3. Writing
All content is written by named authors. Our writing follows these standards:
- Lead with the direct answer to the reader’s question — no preamble
- Use question-format headings where they match how patients actually search
- Present cost information in structured tables for clarity and comparability
- Distinguish clearly between NHS and private treatment options
- Include regional variations (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) where dental policy differs
- Link to official sources inline, not just in a references section
4. Review
All articles are reviewed for factual accuracy, source verification, and editorial consistency before publication.
We are actively working to establish a clinical review process with a GDC-registered dental professional. Until this is in place, our content carries a note that it has not been clinically reviewed and should not replace professional dental advice.
5. Publication and ongoing maintenance
Published articles include a visible “last updated” date. We monitor for changes in NHS dental charges (typically announced in January/February each year for April implementation), policy updates, and contract reforms, and update affected articles promptly.
Articles that contain time-sensitive information — such as current band charges or exemption thresholds — are reviewed at minimum annually and updated to reflect current figures.
How we handle corrections
If we discover an error in published content — whether identified internally, by a reader, or through a source update — we correct it as follows:
Factual errors (incorrect costs, wrong eligibility criteria, inaccurate policy descriptions) are corrected immediately. If the error was significant, we add a correction note to the article explaining what was changed and when.
Minor errors (typos, broken links, formatting issues) are corrected without a formal correction note.
Outdated information (previous year’s band charges, expired policy details) is updated as part of our regular content review cycle, with the “last updated” date amended accordingly.
If you spot an error, please contact us. We take corrections seriously and will respond within 48 hours.
Affiliate content and commercial relationships
Some articles on Dentora contain affiliate links. This means that if you click through to a product or service and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Our rules on affiliate content:
- Affiliate relationships never influence editorial recommendations. We do not recommend products or services because they have an affiliate programme. If something isn’t worth recommending on its merits, we don’t feature it.
- We do not accept payment for editorial coverage. No dental practice, insurer, or product company can pay to be reviewed, featured, or recommended.
- Affiliate links are clearly disclosed. Articles containing affiliate links include a disclosure notice, and individual links are identified where practical.
- We include non-affiliate alternatives. Where an affiliate product is mentioned, we also include non-affiliate options where they exist, so readers can make an informed choice.
Full details are available on our [affiliate disclosure page].
AI and content tools
We use AI-assisted tools in our editorial process — for research assistance, structural planning, and drafting support. However, every article published on Dentora is reviewed, edited, fact-checked, and approved by a human editor before publication. We do not publish AI-generated content without human editorial oversight.
AI tools are never used as a substitute for source verification. All factual claims are checked against the primary and secondary sources listed above, regardless of how the initial draft was produced.
Medical disclaimer
Dentora is an independent health information resource. We are not a dental practice, we do not provide clinical diagnoses, and our content is not a substitute for professional dental advice.
If you are experiencing dental pain, have concerns about your oral health, or need treatment, please contact your dentist, call NHS 111, or visit your nearest dental emergency service.
The information on this site is intended to help you understand your options, know your rights, and make more informed decisions about your dental care. It should always be considered alongside — not instead of — advice from a qualified dental professional.
Contact
Questions about our editorial standards, corrections, or how we work? Get in touch: