Risk management in dentistry

Risk management continues to define itself as an integral element in quality dental care. Issues reviewed range from periodontal record keeping to assessment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and from cosmetic patients to after-hours emergency care. Two common denominators emerge throughout the articles reviewed. First, thorough and accurate documentation of all phases of patient contact and treatment remains at the heart of risk management. Communication, as a system of relationships between physician, staff, and patients, ensures understanding and agreement toward a common goal. Risk management remains a unifying principle that joins legal responsibilities with sound clinical practice.