Consent in dentistry - Are we taking enough?

Dental
1

A normal dental OPD looks like - patients walk in, meet the doctor, gets treated, they pay, and they leave.

But what about consent?

There are often no forms. Nothing.

Consent forms are commonly seen during maxillofacial surgeries,
but what about routine dental procedures like veneers, RCTs, whitening, etc.?

Usually, it’s just an explanation from the dentist. The patient nods, as if they’ve understood everything,
and we proceed. It feels enough in that moment,
but is it really?

Consent is not just about big procedures.
It’s about making sure the patient actually understands what’s going to happen, the risks, the alternatives , and what to expect from the procedure.

Advantages:

  • Builds better communication
  • Improves patient trust
  • Protects you legally
  • Helps in proper documentation of cases
  • Reflects a structured and professional approach of dentist

Then why aren’t we doing it? We are not skipping it because we don’t care . It’s just that it feels small, time-consuming, or unnecessary. But maybe… it isn’t that small. Maybe it’s something we’ve just gotten used to overlooking.

Do you think we should take written consent before every dental procedure even for the routine ones or not ?

MBH/PS

2 Likes
2

Yes. Getting a written consent is very useful. It can act as a protective shield, especially when the patient wrongly files a claim against the doctors.

1 Like
3

Interesting take on consent and dental procedures. We often feel it’s unnecessary to take consent for minor dental procedures like RCTs or other restorative procedures because it’s not life threatening . But what about — if there is a file breakage, or unsatisfactory aesthetic outcome after the procedure , or every endodontists nightmare , a missed canal . So, for such cases though they are not life threatening , there’s a need for consent because at the end of day it does cause discomfort to the patient.

4

Yes there should be a proper protocol pan india that should be followed sadly there is none in dentistry as of now

5

In my view, adopting written consent as a standard practice for dental procedures is essential. Even minor procedures can lead to unexpected outcomes. Informing the patient and explaining the possible potential risks, benefits, expected outcomes should be done prior to starting any form of treatment.