When you are dealing with somebody’s health, whether you are an assistant or the person that is in charge of the procedure, you must take into consideration the information it is that you are giving the patient. As you should know by know if you have been following this blog, is that the dental assistant and the patients will undergo a lot of time together when they are in the dental office, and when a future prospect goes through their Dental Assistant training they need to understand the rights that patients have.
There are many situations where the Dentist or the Hygienist will be the primary person that is letting the patient know the facts about procedures and what will be happening during operations. There is also many situations that this will be the Dental Assistants responsibility to give this information to the patient, as the patient has every right to know exactly what is going to happen, and the risk of whatever procedure it is that needs to be conducted.
Dental assistants should already be taking care of making sure that all of the tools are properly sterilized, there may be situations where the patient will ask about how this process is performed, and it will be the dental assistants duty to respect the patients concerns and explain the procedures.
As you may be aware of, the Dental Assistant is going to more than likely communicating with the patient before and after the visits that they encounter with the Hygienist or the Dentist, so it will be on the assistant to keep the means of communication open at all times also.
Dental Assistants must understand that the patient has the legal right to deny any type of treatment that is explained to them or what kind of treatment they will have to go through in future visits. This is okay and they have their rights to refuse, but it is also necessary for the assistant to explain to the patient the risks that may be involved, or what could happen if they decide to go through with their actions and deny the Dentist’s recommendation, or the one from a Hygienist at that.
They must also be very respectful to the patients in every way. Not everyone brushes their teeth every day, and as a Dental Assistant you will encounter many people that have poor hygiene, and you must be as courteous to them as possible. No smart remarks or anything like that. Nothing rude. But then again it is essential for the assistant to be concerned with the patients health, and recommend a at home dental plan.
Another thing that Dental Assistants need to take grave concern is the security of the patients, such as on a confidential level. Any operations or procedures that are conducted in the office, are to remain straight confidential. In no way may any information be shared with any one except the Dentist or the Hygienist.
If a patient has a bad experience with their visit at the office, they have the right to complain, write negative reports and give not so positive feedback. Depending on what state you are in, the complaint policy will differ. And yes there have been some cases where offices get shut down and Dentists along with the assistants lose their license. Many of these mishaps can be avoided though through following the proper documented procedures, and understanding all of the patients rights that they have.
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