Dentists have a legal, professional and ethical obligation to provide or arrange for dental emergency treatment for their patients.
Full Answer
What are the obligations of a designated dentist?
Dentists have an obligation to consult with and provide emergency dental care to members of the public, or make a reasonable attempt to provide alternative arrangements in their absence.
Do dentists know what a standard of care is?
Bruce Seidberg, DDS, MScD, JD, FCLM, the immediate past president of the American College of Legal Medicine and chief of dentistry at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York, also agrees. “Practicing dentists know that a standard of care exists, but more likely than not, they do not understand exactly what it is and how it is determined.
Who is responsible for accurate and appropriate dental treatment?
Regardless of what insurers do, the responsibility for accurate and appropriate treatment still lies with the dentist. “The clinician should be concerned with the diagnosis, not what treatment the insurance company will pay for,” Douglas Terry, DDS, says.
What does it mean for a dentist to provide enough information?
It means that the dentist must give the patient enough information about his or her condition and all available treatment options. Which of the following is true regarding the unlicensed practice of dentistry? An assistant can perform only functions that have been delegated.
What are the legal obligations of a dentist?
The dentist has a duty to treat people fairly. This principle expresses the concept that professionals have a duty to be fair in their dealings with patients, colleagues and society. Under this principle, the dentist's primary obligations include dealing with people justly and delivering dental care without prejudice.
What conditions do dentists treat?
10 Common Dental Problems and TreatmentTooth Decay. Tooth decay is also known as dental caries or dental cavities. ... Gum Disease. Gingivitis is the early stage and mild form of gum or periodontal disease. ... Bad Breath. ... Sensitive Teeth. ... Cracked or Broken Teeth. ... Receding Gums. ... Root Infection. ... Enamel Erosion.More items...•
What are 3 responsibilities of a dentist?
DutiesRemove decay from teeth and fill cavities.Repair or remove damaged teeth.Place sealants or whitening agents on teeth.Administer anesthetics to keep patients from feeling pain during procedures.Prescribe antibiotics or other medications.More items...•
What is a legal obligation of the dental auxiliary?
Evidence of continuing education for dental assistants to remain certified; it is an ethical obligation of assistants to maintain and update their knowledge and skills.
What is dental condition?
People typically use the term “dental problems” to refer to conditions that affect oral health. Dental problems include cavities, tooth erosion, gum infections, and gum diseases. They can cause pain and discomfort, may affect a person's ability to eat, and may have a negative impact on an individual's self-esteem.
What is considered dental disease?
Periodontal diseases are mainly the result of infections and inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed.
Which of the following are part of a dentist's professional responsibilities a dentist is obligated to?
The Principles The paramount responsibility of a dentist is to the health and well-being of patients. Be truthful, obey the law, and provide care with respect for human rights and dignity and without discrimination. Commit to the highest level of professionalism by maintaining current competency.
What is a general dentist responsibilities for?
The primary job of general dentists is to diagnose, treat, and manage patients' oral health care needs, including root canals, fillings, and gum care. They are considered as the main dental care providers for both children and adults.
What is responsibilities of dentist in community?
Patient Care. Promoting Oral Health & Disease Prevention. Cleaning & Repairing Teeth. Interpreting X-rays & Diagnostic Tests. Creating Treatment Plans To Maintain Or Restore The Oral Health.
What are dental ethics?
Dental ethics is “a system of principles governing the dental practice, a moral obligation to render the best quality of dental services to the patient and to maintain an honest relationship with other professionals and society.”1 Dental ethics plays an integral role in the daily practice of dental hygiene and ...
Who may legally provide dental care in California?
For the purposes of paragraph (2), categories of provider are: General Dentist, Pediatric Dentist, Oral Surgeon, Dentist Anesthesiologist, Physician Anesthesiologist, Dental Assistant, Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Sedation Assistant, Registered Nurse, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or Other.
What is Nonmaleficence in dentistry?
SECTION 2 — Principle: Nonmaleficence ("do no harm"). The dentist has a duty to refrain from harming the patient. This principle expresses the concept that professionals have a duty to protect the patient from harm.
What is HIPAA confidentiality?
As per HIPAA regulations, to confidentiality regarding your diagnosis and treatment, except when you agree to submit this information to others – such as insurance providers. (HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1996.)
What is a bill of patient rights?
By and large, a bill of patient rights is a mission statement that reflects the beliefs and goals of an association or practice with regards to its patients.
What is the purpose of dental licensure?
True or false: The purpose of licensure is to: aid in keeping incompetent persons out of the field; assist in the enforcement of the dental practice act; protect the public's general interest and welfare. Temporary coverage. Expanded functions for dental auxiliaries include preparing and placing ___. Criminal law.
What is a felony in dentistry?
Felony. A major crime, such as fraud or drug abuse. Conviction can result in imprisonment of one year or longer. General supervision. Level of supervision in which the dental auxiliary performs delegated functions according to the instructions of the dentist, who is not necessarily physically present.
What is the Latin word for "things done"?
System that allows individuals in one state to obtain a license in another state without retesting. res gestae. Latin for "things done.". Statements made by a person present at the time of an alleged negligent act that are admissible as evidence in a court of law.
What is administrative law?
Administrative Law. Category of law that involves regulations established by government agencies. Board of dentistry. State agency that adopts rules and regulations and implements the specific state's Dental Practice Act.
What is the duty of care?
The concept of duty of care, or standard of care, is a. legal concept that provides general boundaries. The duty of care owed by a dentist to a patient includes. using reasonable judgement. The purpose of a state dental practice act is to. Specify the legal requirements for the practice of dentistry within the state.
What is the term for asking for a parent's consent for emergency treatment in advance?
Asking for a parent's consent for emergency treatment in advance is called. blanket consent. Consent for treatment of a minor child must be given by the. parent or legal guardian. Direct supervision means that the dentist. Examines the patient before delegating the procedure and again when the procedure is complete.
What is not doing something that should have been done?
Not doing something that should have been done is an act of. omission. Regulations for dental assistants. vary greatly from state to state. State dental practice act regulations are interpreted by the. state board of dentistry. The concept of duty of care, or standard of care, is a.
What is a patient of record?
A patient of record is a person who has. been examined and diagnosed by a licensed dentist. Abandonment could be charged if the dentist. prepares a tooth for a crown and then does not deliver and cement the crown. About 75% of child abuse injuries involve the. head,neck,and mouth area.
What is the standard of care in dentistry?
To attempt to define a standard of care, many of our experts cited the 2004 article, “The Standard of Care in Dentistry, Where Did it Come From? How Has it Evolved?” by Joseph P. Graskemper, DDS, JD, that was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association. 1 In that article, Graskemper informs dentists that rather than possessing its own definition, “standard of care” actually exists in the definition of “negligence,” which has four distinct elements; all must be met if it is to be used as grounds for a malpractice suit. He references King 2 to state those four elements: 1 that a duty of care was owed by the dentist to the patient; 2 that the dentist violated the applicable standard of care; 3 that the plaintiff suffered a compensable injury; 4 that such injury was caused in fact and proximately caused by the substandard conduct.
What is the difficulty in interpreting a standard of care?
To add to the difficulty in interpreting a standard of care are the patients themselves. If they are coming to the office for a purely elective, esthetic procedure, the standard of care becomes far more difficult to navigate than in a straightforward periodontal or endodontic case.
Why do you choose dentistry as your profession?
You most likely chose dentistry as your profession out of a deep desire to help people—to help ease their pain, to help cure their disease, to help improve their well-being and quality of life —all of which is admirable.
What is the standard of care?
The basic definition that most lecturers recite is ‘the standard of care is that reasonable care provided to a patient that is provided by similar members of the profession in similar cases and like conditions, given due regard for the state of the art.’.
Is there a gray area in dentistry?
While many of these standards are clear, like most areas of law, there seems to be a large and overwhelming gray area that leads into an inability to clearly depict the exact boundaries of these standards for each and every aspect of dentistry.
Do dentists have to sign a Hippocratic Oath?
A “standard of care” in dentistry seems to be nebulous at best. Dentists don’t have to sign a Hippocratic Oath, the Golden Rule is purely freedom of choice, and, unfortunately, the advice given by friends and loved ones just may not be enough to hold up in a court of law one day.
