Case study 14/10/2015 Are we there yet? Preview Article Are we there yet? Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview I don’t think that I was taught orthodontics very well at an undergraduate level. That is to say, I think our lecturers scared us off it, telling us that it was best left to ‘the experts’ and so I didn't leave dental school feeling in any way confident to treat orthodontic patients. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Orthodontics Record Keeping Managing Clinical Risk Communicate Patients
Case study 18/09/2015 Would you like Endone on the side? Preview Article Would you like Endone on the side? Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview As a fresh graduate, I started working in the public system in a small country town with another graduate and a mentor/senior dentist who would come by a few times a month to extract wisdom teeth. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Prescribing Generic Dentistry
Articles and features 21/08/2015 Dental Implants Preview Article Dental Implants Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview Implants are used not only in oral surgery, maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontics and restorative dentistry but also in orthodontics, where mini-implants are sometimes used to provide anchorage. This position statement covers all forms. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 17/08/2015 Teledentistry - Additional complications... Preview Article Teledentistry - Additional complications... Time to read article: 7 mins Close Preview Like their medical counterparts, Dental Boards and Dental Councils around the world have been wrestling with this issue for some years now. Most regulatory bodies consider that when giving advice remotely in relation to the treatment of a specific patient, you are practising dentistry, even if you never actually meet the patient in person. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Data Protection Record Keeping Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 17/08/2015 Teledentistry guidance Preview Article Teledentistry guidance Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview As an international organisation, Dental Protection will often have gained experience from one country, which can highlight potential problems to drive and support members, when a similar situation arises in another country. One such topic is the remote provision of professional dental services, sometimes referred to as 'teledentistry'. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing Clinical Risk
Case study 15/07/2015 Would you like to rinse? Preview Article Would you like to rinse? Time to read article: 2 mins Close Preview An innocent enough question but, when an adverse incident occurs, make sure the patient’s welfare is your main priority... Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... System Errors Generic Dentistry Professionalism Communicate
Case study 28/04/2015 Simply the worst day of my practising life Preview Article Simply the worst day of my practising life Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview Nobody gets up in the morning intending on harming someone, I know that, and I am no different. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing Clinical Risk Negligence Competence Professionalism Maxillofacial surgery Generic Dentistry
Articles and features 31/03/2015 How Dental Protection can help you prepare for a CQC inspection Preview Article How Dental Protection can help you prepare for a CQC inspection Close Preview Here are the Dental Protection resources which you may find helpful as part of your preparation for your inspection. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... CQC Compliance
Case study 10/03/2015 Broken endodontic instruments and the importance of radiographs Preview Article Broken endodontic instruments and the importance of radiographs Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview Radiographs are vital tools to determine what is happening in a patient’s mouth. Without this knowledge, problems can arise... Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Professionalism Generic Dentistry Managing Clinical Risk Consent Negligence
Articles and features 28/01/2015 Use of Local Anaesthetic and Fluoride by Dental Hygienists and Therap... Preview Article Use of Local Anaesthetic and Fluoride by Dental Hygienists and Therapists Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview An injection of local anaesthetic or the provision of high concentration fluoride products are procedures that are controlled by the Medicines Act 1968 because they involve the use of prescription-only medicines (POMs). This means they can only be prescribed by a suitably qualified prescriber. The General Dental Council has no influence over this legislation and it is quite separate from the direct access regulations introduced in May 2013. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 19/01/2015 Complaints handling - quick facts Preview Article Complaints handling - quick facts Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview When the practice receives a complaint it must acknowledge the complaint not later than 3 working days after the day on which it was received. At the same time, an offer must be made to discuss with the patient the handling of the complaint and the likely period for the investigation and response. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Complaints
Articles and features 10/12/2014 Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSA) Preview Article Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSA) Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview The role of the clinician continues to evolve in the provision of appliances either for the treatment of snoring or to assist in the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSA). The most recent development is the inclusion of the role of the clinical dental technician (CDT) in the General Dental Council’s Scope of Practice document. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 08/12/2014 Tooth Whitening Preview Article Tooth Whitening Time to read article: 6 mins Close Preview The law relating to tooth whitening changed on 31 October 2012, effectively increasing the percentage of hydrogen peroxide contained or released in tooth whitening or bleaching products to 6%, subject to conditions which include first use by a dental practitioner or under their direct supervision and that the patient is 18 years of age or over. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 02/12/2014 Automatic External Defibrillators - what to consider Preview Article Automatic External Defibrillators - what to consider Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview The Resuscitation Council (UK) published a statement in July 2006 concerning the standards expected of dental practitioners and dental care professionals (DCPs) in general practice within the UK for the management of medical emergencies and resuscitation techniques. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 10/11/2014 GDC Standards for the Dental Team Preview Article GDC Standards for the Dental Team Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview Standards for the Dental Team is published by the General Dental Council (GDC) and came into effect 30 September 2013. The document sets out the standards of conduct, performance and ethics that govern dental professionals in the United Kingdom. It specifies the principles, standards and guidance which apply to all members of the dental team, and also sets out what patients can expect from a dental professional. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 05/11/2014 Bleaching and Tooth Whitening by DCPs Preview Article Bleaching and Tooth Whitening by DCPs Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview In 2008, the General Dental Council issued a press release in the wake of its Scope of Practice consultation which took place earlier that year. The GDC states: ‘Dental hygienists and dental therapists can carry out tooth whitening on the prescription of a dentist, if they have the necessary additional skills. Taking impressions to a dentist’s prescription, and making bleaching trays to a dentist’s prescription, are within the scope of additional skills for dental nurses.’ Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 19/09/2014 GDC standards Q&A - Principle 9 - Make sure your personal behaviour m... Preview Article GDC standards Q&A - Principle 9 - Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in you and the dental profession Time to read article: 1 mins Close Preview Standard 9.1.2 says that I must not make disparaging remarks about another member of the dental team. What is meant by this? Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Professionalism Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 19/09/2014 GDC standards Q&A - Principle 8 - Raise concerns if patients are at risk Preview Article GDC standards Q&A - Principle 8 - Raise concerns if patients are at risk Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview What is the best way to deal with a situation in which you believe a colleague’s work is below standard? Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Professionalism Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 19/09/2014 GDC standards Q&A - Principle 6 - Patients' best interests Preview Article GDC standards Q&A - Principle 6 - Patients' best interests Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview What information do I need to display about members of staff either in the practice or on the website? Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Professionalism Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 18/09/2014 GDC standards Q&A - Principle 5 - Have a clear and effective complain... Preview Article GDC standards Q&A - Principle 5 - Have a clear and effective complaints procedure Time to read article: 5 mins Close Preview Why would I want to draw attention to the practice complaints procedure? Surely that will encourage patients to sue me? Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Complaints Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 31/08/2014 Recording dental pain Preview Article Recording dental pain Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview Patients are often prompted to visit the dentist because they have been experiencing pain or discomfort. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Record Keeping
Articles and features 27/08/2014 Tooth surface loss Preview Article Tooth surface loss Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview Not only is the prevalence of tooth surface loss (TSL) increasing, but clinicians increasingly find themselves facing criticism and challenges regarding its diagnosis and management. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... ENT Generic Dentistry Managing Clinical Risk
Articles and features 27/08/2014 Post-operative instructions Preview Article Post-operative instructions Time to read article: 3 mins Close Preview Sadly the dental surgery environment is not always conducive to effective communication. Often the dentist and other members of the dental team are dealing with a variety of patients, all with different needs, and they may be subject to severe time pressures. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... Generic Dentistry Managing Clinical Risk ENT
Articles and features 27/08/2014 Co-operation & compliance Preview Article Co-operation & compliance Time to read article: 4 mins Close Preview There are many examples in clinical dentistry of treatment which is largely dependent upon the level of co-operation from the patient, and/or the degree to which the patient follows the advice and recommendations of the clinical team. Read more Article contains Text Tagged in... ENT Managing Clinical Risk Generic Dentistry