Risk Management

Best Practice

In order to ensure you have done everything possible to avoid any adverse conflict between a dentists and patient it is advisable to follow best practice at all times:

 

Communicate in a professional manner at all times with your patient, try and solve any dispute at practice level.

Observe patient confidentiality, you are not at liberty to discuss the patients details with anyone except for other health professionals also involved with the patients treatment. If the penitent is under 16 years old, the dentist has a duty of confidentiality to the child and the parent.

Always have a dental nurse with you at all times false claims of indecent assault can be made.

Keep medical histories up to date and always ask the patient before each procedure if there has been any change in their medical history.

Ensure your patient wears protective eyewear and that their clothing is protected.

Always use rubber dam when doing root canal treatment, unless the patient has a medical reason why they cannot wear rubber dam, if this is the case there should be a written record.

If you accidentally numb the facial nerve and give your patient a facial nerve palsy, ensure someone drives them home.

If someone is suffering swelling or pain, treat them promptly and if they are especially concerned phone them at home to make sure they are recovering.

In procedure with inherent risk such as lower wisdom tooth removal, where there is a small risk of temporary or permanent ID nerve damage, please make sure you have advised the patient accordingly and obtained their consent.

Always take care of your patient, if they have had a extraction, give them post extraction advise and try to write it out for them so that they can refer to the advice at home