47 - Consenting dentures

A dentist received a letter of complaint from a patient for whom he had fitted a pair of chrome cobalt dentures. Although he had not supplied the patient with a written treatment plan prior to commencement of the treatment, at each of the subsequent four appointments he fully explained the treatment process. He was therefore, surprised to receive the patient's letter, which alleged that the dentures had been supplied without consent.

The dentist arranged a meeting with the patient and an accompanying relative.
Also present was the dental nurse who had been in the surgery throughout the treatment and, who had witnessed the dentist's explanations. With the use of comprehensive record cards and substantiated by his nurse, the dentist was able to assure the patient that he had fully discussed the provision of two chrome cobalt dentures both before and during the treatment. He did however, apologise for the obvious misunderstanding - this is something you can always do without having to suggest that either you, or the patient, were in the wrong.

A smoothly co-ordinated response involving all the parties to the case, plus an apology from the dentist saved the day