IOIE & ODYE - Orientation To Dental Assisting & Dentistry

What Does MDA stand for?

Manitoba Dental Association

What does MDAA stand for?

Manitoba Dental Assistants Association

What does CDA stand for?

Canadian Dental Association

What does CDAA stand for?

Canada Dental Assistants Association

What does NDAEB stand for?

National Dental Assisting Examining Board

What does CDAC stand for?

Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada

What was the first dental college?

Baltimore College of Dentistry

What significant thing did C. Edmund Kells do in 1885

First to employ a dental assistant

Who is legally responsible if something out of practice happens?

The dentist

Who falls under the dentist’s supervision?

Dental assistant, dental hygienist, dental laboratory technician

What responsibilities does a dental assistant have?

Seating and preparing patient, charting, taking vital signs, assisting dentist during procedures, ensuring patient comfort

In Winnipeg who is the regulatory body and scope of practice dental assistants would follow?

Manitoba Dental Association (MDA)

What is the purpose of the NDAEB?

Testing dental assistants and issuing credentials.

What does ethics refer to?

What you should do, not what you must do

If ethics deals with what you should do, what deals with what you must do?

The law

What does Autonomy mean?

Regard for self-determination

What does Nonmaleficence mean?

To “do no harm”

What does Beneficence mean?

Promotion of well-being

What does Statutory Law consist of?

Civil law and Criminal law

What does Civil Law consist of?

Contract law, Tort law, Administrative law

Contract Law: What is an Expressed Contract?

Established through written word or by verbal agreement. Used when treatment is extensive or take a long time to complete

Contract Law: What is an Implied Contract?

Established by actions (signs of pain/symptoms) and not through words. If patient comes in with toothache a dentist legally can examine since patient implies they want treatment.

What is a Tort Law?

Civil wrongdoing; Wrongful act by one that results in injury to another or damage to property

True or False: Tort Law can happen unintentionally OR can be done intentionally

True

In Tort Law, what is it called harm is caused unintentionally due to carelessness behaviour?

Negligence

Why does Licensure exist?

To protect the public from unqualified or incompetent practitioners

What are the 3 types of supervision

Direct, indirect, general supervision

What is Due Care?

(Dentist) must provide proper and sufficient care, or the absence of negligence

What is Malpractice?

Professional negligence, or the failure to use due care or the lack of due care

What are the four D’s in Malpractice?

Duty, derelict, direct cause, damages

True or False: All four D’s must be present for a lawsuit

True

What is Act of Omission?

FAILURE to perform an act that a “reasonable and prudent professional” would perform. Ex: Dentist does not probe or take periapical X-ray to diagnose if patient has abscesses

What is Act of Commission?

Performance of an act that a “reasonable and prudent professional” would NOT perform. Ex: Dentist administers 15 cartridges of anesthetic for a very small child

What does “Doctrine of Res Ipsa Loquitur” mean

“Thing speaks for itself”

What do the major areas of Risk Management (prevention of lawsuits) involve?

• Excellent communication with patients

• Maintaining accurate and complete records

• Receiving informed consent

• Doing everything possible to maintain the highest standards of clinical excellence

What should be done to avoid malpractice lawsuits?

If patients have:

• The planned treatment

• The results that can be reasonably be expected

• The potential treatment complications

• The patient’s financial obligations

Why is “Silence is Golden” important?

In the clinic there should be no critical remarks made about the dental treatment. Statements made spontaneously at the time of an alleged negligent act are admissible as evidence. Ex: “Whoops” or “Uh-oh”

What is Implied consent?

Given when the patient agrees to treatment or at least does not object. Less reliable form of consent in a court of law if there is a malpractice suit

What is Written consent?

The preferred method of obtaining and documenting the patient’s consent and understanding of procedure

What must the dentist do if a patient refuses treatment?

Informed refusal; Dentist must inform patient about likely consequences and obtain the patient’s informed refusal

True or False: Informed refusal releases the dentist from the responsibility of providing the standard care

False

True or False: For minor children, the parent, custodial parent, or legal guardian must give consent

True

How do you document Informed consent?

The patient’s record should indicate the patient received information about risks, benefits, and treatment alternatives and consented to or refused the proposed treatment

When is a Written Informed consent document recommended?

When treatment is:

• Extensive

• Invasive

• Risky

True or False: The patient, the dentist, and a witness should sign the written consent form

True

What should an Informed consent form contain?

• Nature of the proposed treatment

• Benefits and treatment alternatives

• Risks and potential consequences w/ not performing treatment

• Other information as necessary

What is Contributory Negligence?

When the patient contributes to their own injury or harm due to their own negligence. Broken or canceled appointments must be noted in the patient’s record as it can be useful in legal action.

Who has ownership of dental records and radiographs?

The dentist

What does “Respondeat Superior” mean?

Latin for “Let the master answer”. Legal doctrine that holds an employer liable for acts of the employee; Dentist is held responsible

What is Dental Neglect?

The willful failure of a person or guardian to seek and obtain appropriate treatment for caries and oral infection

True or False: You can be sued for reporting your suspicions to protect a child

False

What does HIPAA stand for?

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

What is the purpose of HIPAA?

• Provide consumers with greater access to healthcare insurance

• Protect the privacy of protected health information

• Promote greater standardization and to enhance efficiency in healthcare industry

True or False: Dentists and all dental health professionals must follow the HIPAA regulations

True