Stephen Henderson describes a campaign that has fundamentally changed the way in which the GDC’s Investigating Committee operates

The law on “informed” consent has changed following a recent Supreme Court judgment

The report of the Intercollegiate Advisory Committee for Sedation (IACS) in Dentistry was published in April 2015 and replaces the previous document, Conscious Sedation in the Provision of Dental Care (Department of Health 2003)

Resistance to shared decision making often revolves around a perception that dentists have many patients who wish the dentist to make the decision for them. Whatever you think best. The difficulty is that just as Dentists have preferences for their style of decision making, patients also have preferences as to their desired level of involvement.

Some important facts that we think you will find surprising

Dental Protection has called on the Government to implement a package of legal reforms to help tackle the rising cost of clinical negligence, and the challenging claims environment for dentists.

Dental Protection has welcomed the General Dental Council’s (GDC) commitment to provide greater clarity on how and when it will use its formal Fitness to Practise enforcement powers as a solution to managing serious risk to patients.

The key to complaints handling is a flexibility of approach. The complaints handling process should adapt to the needs of a patient and not the other way round. Although there is no single way to handle a complaint, there are some key steps that should always be considered...

Associate Dentolegal Adviser Simrit Ryatt explains the help Dental Protection can offer when you receive a letter of complaint.

Associate Dentolegal Adviser Simrit Ryatt outlines the key components of a response to letter of complaint. She offers tips on the wording of your letter to maintain a professional and effective relationship with the patient making the complaint.

Receiving a letter of complaint from a patient can often come as a shock, and can be a stressful and difficult time for a dental professional.

In addition to several references in the press to “dirty dentists” this is the month that the case of Dr D’Mello returned to the GDC. More importantly, when the case is reported in the national press it has the potential to suggest that dental surgeries may not be safe or that cross - infection standards have been disregarded. One way to avoid such suspicion is to share your infection control routines with your patients at an early stage when they first come for treatment; adopt an “open house” policy.

Find out why you need to put your reasons in writing, and be clear and focused on why the relationship needs to end. Read our advice booklet on Ending Professional Relationships

Learn why this raises important questions about confidentiality, and your duty of care towards other family members, in particular, children.

Dr Jane Merivale, Senior Dentolegal Adviser at Dental Protection, explains why discussion around ending a relationship should always be couched in terms of the best interests of the patient.