When seeing a patient for the first time, it is essential to read the previous entries on the record cards and any enclosed correspondence carefully.
A recent example of a mishap occurred when, on seeing a young patient for the first time, a new associate in the practice looked at the previous correspondence in the records. It included a letter to his predecessor from the orthodontist requesting that the upper first premolars be extracted on eruption. On examining the patient, the dentist noted that the upper premolars were erupting and arranged for their extraction. It was only after they had been removed, and when the new associate took time to look back over the previous dental records, that he noted that the upper first premolars had been extracted some months earlier by his predecessor. The teeth he had just extracted were the upper second premolars which were erupting into their place.
Such as mishap could have been avoided if the new associate had read the previous correspondence, and also checked back over the previous dental record entries before starting treatment.
This page was correct at publication on 06/05/2002. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.