Seapoint Clinic – Clinical Warranty Terms and Conditions

At Seapoint Clinic, we aim to provide high-quality dental treatment and restorations. The following warranty terms explain the cover available for eligible treatment carried out by our clinic, the conditions that apply, and the circumstances in which warranty cover may not apply.

These terms should be read alongside the individual treatment plan and any specific warranty conditions provided before treatment.

1. Dental implants – 3 years

Implants placed by Seapoint Clinic are covered for three years against failure of the implant to integrate or failure of the implant-supported crown or bridge due to a defect in the restoration itself.

Warranty cover is conditional on the patient maintaining good oral hygiene, attending recommended maintenance and review appointments, and following the treating clinician’s advice.

Warranty cover may not apply where failure is attributable to:

• Inadequate oral hygiene or failure to attend recommended maintenance appointments.
• Active periodontal disease or significant deterioration in the periodontal health of the remaining teeth or supporting tissues.
• Loss of adjacent or opposing teeth, where these are not replaced or the resulting changes in the bite and loading are not appropriately assessed and managed.
• Failure to follow recommendations relating to bite management, grinding or clenching, including failure to wear a prescribed nightguard.
• Other changes in oral health, excessive loading, trauma or circumstances outside the control of the clinic.

The clinical circumstances will be assessed to determine whether the failure falls within the warranty.

2. Crowns, bridges and porcelain veneers – 3 years

Crowns, bridges and porcelain veneers provided by Seapoint Clinic are covered for three years against fracture, debonding or failure of the restoration itself, subject to the conditions in this document.

The warranty does not cover new or progressive problems affecting the underlying teeth or supporting tissues, including decay, root infection, periodontal disease or changes in the bite.

Warranty cover may not apply where the failure is attributable to inadequate oral hygiene, failure to attend recommended reviews, trauma, excessive forces from grinding or clenching, or failure to follow a recommendation to wear a nightguard.

3. Composite veneers – 2 years

Composite veneers placed by Seapoint Clinic are covered for two years against failure of the composite veneer itself, subject to the conditions in this document.

This warranty applies to composite veneers only. It does not apply to small composite bonding repairs, edge bonding, isolated additions to tooth edges, white fillings or other limited composite restorations. These treatments are not covered by the composite veneer warranty.

Composite restorations depend on effective bonding to the available tooth structure. Where significant dental erosion or enamel loss is present, the amount of enamel available for bonding may be reduced, and the risk of chipping, debonding or fracture may be higher. The clinician will explain these limitations before treatment wherever they are identified.

Warranty cover may not apply where erosion progresses, the remaining tooth structure deteriorates, or the restoration fails due to excessive loading or other conditions that materially increase the forces acting on it beyond those reasonably anticipated for the restoration.

4. White fillings and small composite bonding – no standard warranty

White fillings, edge bonding, small composite additions and repair work that does not constitute a composite veneer are not covered by the composite veneer warranty or by a separate standard warranty unless this is expressly confirmed in writing in the individual treatment plan.

These restorations may chip, wear or debond, particularly where there is significant erosion, limited enamel, grinding or clenching, or other adverse loading conditions. Any subsequent repair or replacement is assessed and charged in accordance with the clinic’s usual fees, unless otherwise agreed in writing or required by applicable law.

5. Dentures – 1 year

Dentures made by Seapoint Clinic are covered for one year against fracture or failure of the denture itself, subject to the conditions in this document.

Changes in the gums, bone and oral tissues can affect the fit of a denture over time. Adjustments, relines or replacement required because of these changes are not covered as defects in the denture and may incur additional fees.

Damage caused by trauma, accidents, misuse or failure to follow care instructions is excluded, subject to applicable law.

6. Orthodontics – braces and Invisalign

Orthodontic treatment is planned to achieve the agreed clinical objectives, subject to individual biological responses, compliance and the limitations explained by the treating clinician.

Teeth have a natural lifelong tendency to move following orthodontic treatment. Retainers must be worn as instructed, often indefinitely, to maintain the result.

Movement resulting from failure to wear retainers as prescribed, loss or damage to retainers, or changes occurring after treatment is completed may require additional treatment at an additional cost. Retainer replacement terms and any specific orthodontic warranty arrangements will be set out in the individual treatment plan.

7. Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening does not carry a warranty for shade or duration of results. Outcomes vary between individuals, and results may fade over time due to diet, lifestyle, ageing and other factors. The clinician will explain the likely results and limitations before treatment.

8. Conditions applying to all applicable warranties

Warranty cover is conditional on the patient:

• Maintaining appropriate oral hygiene and following the clinician’s home-care instructions.
• Attending recommended hygiene, maintenance and review appointments at the advised intervals.
• Following clinical recommendations intended to protect the restoration, including wearing a prescribed nightguard where indicated.
• Informing the clinic of relevant changes in oral health, bite, grinding or clenching, and attending for assessment when advised.
• Following reasonable care instructions for the restoration.

Grinding and clenching: Where a nightguard has been prescribed or specifically recommended to protect dental work, failure to wear it as instructed may exclude warranty cover for damage or failure attributable to grinding, clenching or excessive loading.

Dental erosion and reduced enamel: Where significant dental erosion or enamel loss is present, the patient acknowledges that bonding strength, retention and longevity may be reduced. If erosion progresses or the restoration fails as a result of the compromised tooth structure or associated loading, warranty cover may not apply.

Implants and changing dental conditions: For implant-supported restorations, changes such as deterioration in periodontal health, inadequate hygiene, loss of adjacent or opposing teeth, or changes in the bite may affect loading and long-term stability. Failure attributable to these circumstances may fall outside warranty cover.

Hygiene and maintenance: Failure to maintain appropriate oral hygiene or attend recommended maintenance appointments may exclude warranty cover where the failure is related to, or materially contributed to by, the resulting condition.

Trauma and external damage: Damage caused by accidents, trauma or other external events is not covered under the standard warranty, subject to applicable law.

9. Assessment of a warranty claim

If a restoration fails during the applicable warranty period, the clinic will assess the restoration and the circumstances of the failure to determine whether the issue falls within the warranty.

Where warranty cover applies, the clinic will repair or replace the eligible restoration at no additional charge. Where the issue arises from a new disease process, changes in the mouth, external damage, or another excluded cause, any necessary treatment will be discussed with the patient and charged at the applicable fee.

The existence of a problem during the warranty period does not, by itself, establish that the restoration is covered. Equally, a warranty claim will not be refused solely because a patient has a particular risk factor; the relevant clinical circumstances and the cause of the failure will be assessed.

The clinician will explain the available options, associated fees and any limitations before additional treatment proceeds.

10. Statutory rights

These warranty terms do not limit or exclude any rights or remedies that the patient may have under applicable consumer protection law. Nothing in this document excludes liability where such exclusion is prohibited by law.