The Journal
options available and consequences including
costs and the probability of outcomes. It also
requires the capability of the dentist to
communicate effectively (in patient’s language)
on a level to satisfy the patient about all choices.
Some of us don’t know that it is not necessary to
obtain informed consent for clinical examination
and routine radiography. In general, the
consent process provides an opportunity for the
dentist to create a good patient–clinician
relationship by communicating with the patient
regarding the details of the treatment, tailoring
the information to the specific needs and
understanding of the patient. It also allows the
patient to express his opinions and concerns.
This can build patients’ trust and confidence on
the dentist as they feel they are in control of the
decisions in their treatment. Many dentists are
not aware of the professional indemnity
insurance as the same is used for providing
compensation to the patient if the dentist was
found guilty/negligent as per law.
9.Sterilization and bio-medical waste
handling : We the dentists are also less aware
(especially the newbie practitioners) about
adequate sterilization and proper biomedical
waste management in dental clinics. Basically,
infection control protocol includes a number of
specific measures that takes in PPE (Personal
Protective Equipment), prevention of cross-
infection, proper waste and material disposal,
and much more desired self and staff
protection. ADA recommends that dental clinics
should monitor sterilization at least weekly with
biological indicators. Biological monitoring is
the standard method for assuring proper
sterilization of dental instruments. Sterilization
and disinfection ensures efficiency of the used
equipments, eliminating cross-contamination
and ensuring safety for us, patients and our
staff. Many of the dental clinics don't follow
proper waste management protocol as well;
however, with statutory requirements in place in
most states and with State pollution control
board (under the aegis of Central pollution
Control Board – CPCB) tightening the noose
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around the same, it is now mandatory to indulge
in the same. Many dentists who in the past were
not getting attached to waste management
companies and disposing health-care waste
along with regular waste are now being
penalized heavily. Dentists should also be
concerned with needle prick injuries in dental
clinics and ensure a proper way to dispose
needles after use. Improper waste disposal
contaminates the environment also, thus, it is
the duty of every dentist that they should check
in that the waste from the clinics is disposed in a
proper manner in the interest of safety of
everyone.
10. Disagreement to treatment modalities
among dentists and patients : One of the
pertinent challenges faced today is the lack of
acceptance of treatment modalities by many
patients’ especially newer clinics. In today's era
of ‘Google’ as the saviour for most, we
commonly come across patients who has
already surfed his disease and its treatment
options on the internet. It is becoming an
everyday scenario that we have situations
where-in patients challenge the treatment plan
of dentists and the newbies (even the settled
ones have this problem). Patients have to be
made aware that each situation is different and
any dentist offering you treatment options has
learnt from experience and knowledge about
the same. To avoid any sorts of conflict, patients
can be given the right to obtain the second
opinion which makes a patient mentally
satisfied of receiving the correct treatment and
a gain in confidence with his operator as well.
The problem arises when an alternative line of
treatment (similarly successful, but not being
offered by the primary dentist) is available and
the patient, in second opinion, is accorded the
same in his treatment plan which is sometimes
similar to what the patient had ‘Googled’ earlier.
11. Poor record keeping : Poor record keeping
has become the bane of the most dental clinics
and is more or less accounted in form of
negligence by us. The Dental Council of India
Vol. 14 No. 2
May-August 2018