Professional practice

The decisions and behaviours that keep dental care trustworthy.

9 detailed notes·Clinical examples + recall

Topics

9 notes

Discuss material benefits, risks, alternatives and no treatment in a form the patient understands. Check voluntariness and decision-making ability.

Write contemporaneous, factual notes of assessment, decisions, consent, treatment, advice and follow-up. Correct errors transparently.

Protect patient information while sharing appropriately for direct care or a justified legal or safeguarding purpose.

Apply standard precautions, instrument decontamination, environmental cleaning and sharps safety according to current policy.

Recognise concerns in adults and children, listen, document accurately and use the proper local route for advice or referral.

Work within competence, communicate clearly and check that delegated tasks fit each team member's scope and training.

Adapt care to language, disability, culture and individual priorities, while avoiding assumptions. Use interpreters appropriately.

Listen, respond promptly, explain what happened and take steps to prevent recurrence. Follow legal and professional candour duties.

Audit, incident learning and supervision improve systems. Define a standard, measure practice, implement change and remeasure.