One of the most spectacular examples of new technology in modern dentistry is the increasing use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Dentolegal consultant Jim Lafferty looks at important aspects of the technique

Mrs R attended Dr A’s practice to discuss treatment options to restore her upper arch.

Miss N attended an examination appointment with a new dentist,unhappy with the appearance of her upper teeth.

Ms B was suffering from pain that kept her awake at night. An examination by the dentist established tooth 27 was the cause of discomfort.

A retained root causes a patient complaint against a dentist. While Dental Protection supported him in rectifying the matter, issues were raised with his record-keeping – find out what learning points came out of this case.

Making clinical judgements that go against the grain is never a good idea. If in doubt, Dental Protection is only ever a phone call away...

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...

As this case demonstrates, failing to take notice of a patient’s social history can impact as much as neglecting their medical history...