A Newcastle dental student has launched DentalCompare, a free platform designed to help patients compare dental clinics before choosing where to book.
The platform allows users to compare treatment prices, ratings, reviews, NHS availability and other key information.
DentalCompare was created by fourth-year Newcastle University dental student Sul Malik after noticing how difficult it can be for patients to compare dental practices in one place.
While patients can usually find individual clinic websites, prices and reviews online, the information is often spread across several different sources. DentalCompare brings much of that information together so patients can compare their options more easily.
The platform currently focuses on clinics across the North East of England and York, with coverage continuing to expand.
Patients can search for nearby dental practices and compare factors including treatment prices, patient ratings and reviews, NHS availability, payment options and what is included within certain treatment prices.
Sul said:
“Choosing a dentist can be surprisingly difficult. Patients might have to look through several websites just to understand how much a treatment costs, whether a clinic offers NHS care or what other patients have said about their experience.
“The idea behind DentalCompare is to make that information easier to find and compare in one place.”
The platform also includes an AI-assisted search feature designed to help users find clinics based on what they are looking for – such as a particular treatment, location or NHS availability.
Sul added that the platform is not intended to tell patients which dentist they should choose – but instead to give them more useful information before making their own decision.
“Price is only one part of choosing a dental practice,” he said.
“DentalCompare also shows ratings and reviews, which can provide a useful patient-facing indication of people’s experiences – alongside information such as payment options and treatment availability.”
The project was developed independently by Sul alongside his dental studies – with the long-term aim of expanding coverage across more of the UK.
DentalCompare is free for patients to use, and Sul is currently working with dental practices across the region to improve the accuracy and amount of information available on the platform.
He said:
“The goal is simple – when someone needs a dentist, I want it to be much easier for them to understand the options available to them.”
DentalCompare can be accessed online, with further North East clinics expected to be added as the platform continues to grow.
The post Newcastle Dental Student Launches Free DentalCompare Platform appeared first on Newcastle Magazine – Your source for inspiring Newcastle news.
