Having good dental records is not just important during a complaints process. Good dental records also assist in patient safety, continuity of care, communication, auditing and forensics. However, dental records tend to come into particular focus when a complaints process is initiated.

A diagnosis may seem obvious to a dental practitioner based on the history recorded and results of further tests such as pulp vitality testing, however, when is it necessary to record a diagnosis? A study published in 2017 provided additional clarity about the standards expected by drawing on the consensus opinion of experts in this field. In this series of articles, we consider what constitutes a complete dental record.

The Code of Conduct outlines the requirements for dental records in Australia. However, this document is not prescriptive, and in some cases, open to variance in interpretation. A study published in 2017 provided additional clarity about the standards expected by drawing on the consensus opinion of experts in this field. In this series of articles, we consider what constitutes a complete dental record.