I didn’t really want to work for anyone else when I graduated, I just liked the idea of being my own boss and so I found my own premises to set up in. I’m happy still with the decisions and choices I made, although it came with challenges...

Nobody gets up in the morning intending on harming someone, I know that, and I am no different.

Radiographs are vital tools to determine what is happening in a patient’s mouth. Without this knowledge, problems can arise...

Failing to make the correct diagnosis inevitably means the treatment will fail too. As this case illustrates, seeing the bigger picture should always be the aim...

If you haven’t got a system in place for adequately dealing with patients when the practice is closed, you’ll have much more to deal with than disgruntled patients...

There is only one true version of events and presenting any other leaves you open to criticism or worse. Getting all the facts straight is always the best course of action...

Although this is something of a worst-case scenario, this case demonstrates the need to be sure that whatever you do to a patient, you do no harm...

Medical history isn’t the definitive article of a patient’s situation – sometimes you must dig a little deeper to ensure you do no harm...

Mistakes can be made when writing referral letters, double checking the details can only help avoid anything like this happening...

Complications which arise during any treatment need to be diagnosed, recorded and sorted, such as described in this case...

When three opinions clash in the settlement of a difference in clinical opinion, something is clearly amiss...

Keeping patients informed of any negative developments in their treatment is always a better policy than trying to hide something for whatever reason...

As this case illustrates, referring a patient doesn’t end your supervision of their progress...

If a patient complains of a painful swelling, failing to investigate its cause could lead to a devastating result, as this case demonstrates...

As this case demonstrates, medical and social history can be of equal importance in many outcomes...

Contracts between dentists and funding agencies are absolute – making sure you can honour your side of the bargain is essential...

As this case shows, it’s prudent when embarking on an extensive course of treatment to ensure the patient will still be around to see it through...

As a practice owner, one has to be meticulous in documenting decisions, especially where dismissals could lead to claims of unfairness...

Acting outside of one’s level of experience is one thing but failing to explain all treatment options, or the possibility of having none at all, is quite another...

Taking over from another dentist can lead to conflict – but protecting the interests of the patients remains paramount...

If you don’t keep up to date with your profession, you might be providing treatment that’s become outmoded, as this case demonstrates...

The importance of discussing and documenting everything with your patients cannot be over-emphasised, as this case proves...

A patient refusing to pay is often an issue that requires more careful attention than threatening legal action against them, as this case demonstrates...

Making assumptions can have serious consequences, as this cautionary case illustrates...