Adverse Events During Dental Care for Children: Implications for Practitioner Health and Wellness

Adverse events during dental care for children inevitably happen, despite precautionary procedures. Remedial measures have primarily focused upon affected children and their parents/caregivers. The purpose of this paper was to summarize the effects of adverse events upon practitioners involved in the incident who have been termed second victims. Affected practitioners may suffer negative emotions impinging upon their professional performance as well as deleterious personal health consequences, including substance abuse and depression/suicidal ideation. Peer support has been identified as an important mechanism to foster recovery in second victims. Practitioners need supportive efforts following their inadvertent involvement in adverse events to facilitate their recovery and maintenance of personal health and wellness.