dental office

How to Find the Right Dentist

by

Looking to get some work done on your pearly whites? Maybe you’re seeking a professional diagnosis. Perhaps it’s simply time for a routine checkup. Regardless, it’s important that you find the right partner in oral health. Not all dentists are the same, and you need to know what to look out for. They should have ample training and experience for your individual requirements. This will ensure that you have someone to rely on in the event of any aches, allergies or anxieties. Here’s how to find the right dentist. Obtain Referrals You might be searching for a dentist after moving to a new area. Consider asking the neighborhood pharmacist or nearby friends and family for recommendations. Put the word out and see what comes back. If you aren’t familiar with the locals, you can browse through online reviews or consult … Read more

Teenager Sexually Assaulted by Dental Assistant during Wisdom Teeth Removal

by

In the past on this site, discussion has been made of cases of sexual assault occurring during wisdom teeth removal. See for example Recent Cases of Dentist Assistant Sexual Assault During Wisdom Teeth Removal, Dentist Who Groped Patients Sentenced to Jail and http://www.teethremoval.com/sexual_assault_under_anesthesia_for_wisdom_teeth_removal.html. In recent years there seems to be more cases involving dental assistants sexually assaulting patients during wisdom teeth removal as opposed to a dentist or oral surgeon sexually assaulting a patient. Recent cases include when a dental assistant sexually assaulted 13 patients while each were having wisdom teeth extracted in 2015 and 2016 in San Diego, California, and when a dental assistant sexually assaulted a teenage woman while she was having wisdom teeth surgery in 2017 in Silver Spring, Maryland.  Recently in December 2019, an eighteen year old teenage woman scheduled for wisdom teeth removal was allegedly assaulted by … Read more

Improving the Dental Care Customer Experience

by

Everyone knows that the vast majority of patients do not like going to the dentist. In fact many people are afraid of the dentist and won’t even go when there is a problem. Therefore, it is important that dentists focus on the customer experience to create customer success and have patients keep coming back. Having positive outcomes for patients can lead them to refer their friends and family to the practice. Dentist should consider questions such as “are our customers happy?” and “do we provide quality care?”. Below are some ways to improve the customer experience for dentists that will lead to better outcomes for patients and for dentists: 1. Stay in Touch Even though you may have a dental patient, it is important to continue to cultivate that relationship. After they leave the dental office you may consider calling … Read more

Dentist Who Groped Patients Sentenced to Jail

by

A Melbourne Australian dentist who groped his patients was sentenced to jail for seven years in late 2018. The 60 year old dentist plead guilty to indecent assault of eight patients and one staff member over a period of nearly 20 years. He must serve at least four and a half years before being eligible for parole. The dentist had actually had his registration suspended due to a patient who died after having wisdom teeth removed in August 2017. The dentist had been prevented from treating women since November 2016 as complaints from women began to come in 2014. He first denied three complaints but then as additional complaints came in he was forced to go to trial. In one case the dentist ran his hands against a woman’s hips and breast and mouthed “I love you” to her. In … Read more

How to Address a Patient who Had an Interrupted Treatment Plan

by

An interesting article titled “Following up with a patient whose treatment has been interrupted” appears in the November 2014, JADA, and written by Michael H. Halasz. The article discusses a patient who received a complex treatment from a military dentist. The treatment started but because of deployment of a large number of troops in Iraq the treatment was interrupted so that the dentists could attend to other troops. The article addresses if the patient was abandoned during this time. The American Dental Association Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct states “Once a dentist has undertaken a course of treatment, the dentist should not discontinue that treatment without giving the patient adequate notice and the opportunity to obtain the services of another dentist. Care should be taken that the patient’s oral health is not jeopardized in the process.” The … Read more