Dental Procedures and Treatments From root canals to wisdom tooth extractions, knowing what to expect when you visit the dentist can help you prepare and make better treatment choices. Oil Pulling: Health Benefits, How to Do It, Side Effects. Dental hygienists are expected to perform an 'assessment' during the dental hygiene process of care. In fact, it is Standard 1 of the American Dental Hygienists' Association's Standards for Clinical Dental Hygiene Practice. 1 Most state practice acts include language that reinforces this to be one of the primary duties and/or responsibilities. Approved Treatment Plans can have new CDT (ADA) codes appended to the plan by the USAR Dentist, USAR Dental Surgeon, RHRP Dental Office, RHRP Contract Dentist, and RHRP Dental Technician after 30 days from the approved date. Note: - Users may modify Treatment Plans they submitted at any time up to final approval. Approved Treatment Plans can have new CDT (ADA) codes appended to the plan by the USAR Dentist, USAR Dental Surgeon, RHRP Dental Office, RHRP Contract Dentist, and RHRP Dental Technician after 30 days from the approved date. Note: - Users may modify Treatment Plans they submitted at any time up to final approval.
A number of state and specialty dental associations, clinics and private practices offer a patient bill of rights. You are likely to find these patient rights posted in the reception area, in brochures or on organization web sites.
By and large, a bill of patient rights is a mission statement that reflects the beliefs and goals of an association or practice with regards to its patients.
Patient Rights Checklist
The following is a typical checklist of the rights to which you are entitled as a dental patient:
- To a high standard of care, without regard to ethnicity, sex, national origin, religion, age or disability.
- To be treated with courtesy, respect and the highest professional, ethical and moral conduct by your dentist and his or her staff.
- Access to complete and up-to-date information and records regarding your dental health and treatment options. This includes learning the risks, benefits and alternatives before you agree to proceed. You also have the right to learn how your dental health will be affected if you opt for no treatment at all.
- To learn what your dentist regards as the optimal treatment plan for your needs.
- To receive a fee estimate for all treatment, and to ask whether and how your treatment plan can be scaled down to fit your financial or time needs.
- To refuse any treatment, including treatment that is already in progress.
- To treatment that will be completed in a timely and efficient manner.
- To prompt assistance in the case of a dental emergency.
- To expect all appropriate infection and sterilization protocols to be followed.
- As per HIPAA regulations, to confidentiality regarding your diagnosis and treatment, except when you agree to submit this information to others – such as insurance providers. (HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1996.)
Rhrp Approved Dental Treatment Options
Options for Dissatisfied Dental Patients
If you have complaints about the treatment or advice you receive, you have several options:
- You can inform your state dental regulator (contact your state government for specifics) or your local dental society or board. The latter has peer review committees that can resolve disputes concerning the quality of care and appropriateness of treatment provided by its member dentists.
- Disputes concerning your dental bill can be taken to the Better Business Bureau.
- As a last resort, you can seek legal assistance.
The Patient Rights Revolution
The concept of patient rights came to the fore during the mid- to late-1990s, during which time the rise in HMOs was thought to potentially signal a lower quality of health care. To instill confidence in the health system, a number of dental associations and practices issued bills of patient rights, educating patients with regards to what they should expect during dental treatment.
A decade later, patient rights issues continue to be relevant. One such issue is assuring today’s proactive patients that they will be informed of all the choices available to them in terms of their dental care – tooth restorations, for example, or dental implants, wisdom tooth extraction, orthodontics (braces), porcelain veneers, sedation, etc.
The dentist does the diagnosing and develops a treatment plan, but the contemporary patient expects to know what the options are and to have a say in the decision-making process. Considering the amount of money involved in restorative and cosmetic dentistry, it is important that patients are thoroughly aware of all potential treatment options so that they may select a solution that meets their unique criteria.
By Dr. Aldino P. Maggiulli
CRPS usually develops after a traumatic episode. Any body part can be affected but the symptoms are mostly seen on the upper and lower extremities. Victims of an injury may develop a burning sensation or numbness on their extremities. Their pain varies day to day. They may develop problems maneuvering their limbs and have dexterity problems. Some people affected with this syndrome face great challenges while trying to accomplish even routine functions. It is important to share any asset which can provide comfort and consistent results to those who suffer with CRPS. This article shares one such asset which was discovered in a dental setting.
Rhrp Approved Dental Treatment
It is apparent that patients with CRPS can’t be treated in the usual manner as other dental patients. This was discovered when a patient with CRPS came to my office for routine dental treatment. The patient, who we’ll call “Will” to provide confidentially entered my office on June 21, 2002. Will informed me that he bad been suffering with CRPS for the past seven years. He mentioned that he had been involved in a car accident and the symptoms of the disease followed there after.
Will was diagnosed with generalized gum disease and a second appointment was made for him to return for aggressive hygiene therapy. His treatment was initiated on July 22, 2002. Traditional dental anesthesia was given and treatment was delivered to the top right and bottom right gum tissues. Will didn’t tolerate the deep cleaning procedure well. He reported feeling fatigue and generalized aches. He still had to return to complete the left sides of his dentition. Will had to be motivated to continue. An agreement was made that his next appointments would be shorter. We would treat only the top left side and on a subsequent appointment treat the remaining bottom left side.
Rhrp Approved Dental Treatment Guidelines
Will reluctantly returned on August 6th. Traditional dental anesthesia was given only to the top left side. The appointment time was cut in half and Will reported feeling a little better than his first visit. He wasn’t tired but the aches associated with CRPS persisted. A startling discovery was made on Will’s third visit. He reluctantly returned for the remaining bottom left gum treatment. Traditional dental anesthesia was given to the bottom left side. The appointment time was short, unlike his first marathon session treating two upper and lower right areas. This appointment was different in that a second dose of dental anesthesia was given to the patient before the gum treatment ended. Will, for the first time, felt great. The decreased appointment time combined with additional local anesthesia close to the conclusion of his gum treatment made this CRPS patient completely comfortable and report no post-op sensation. It’s difficult to conclude any significant treatment protocol by revealing the results of just one CRPS patient. This experience demonstrates that CRPS patients can’t be treated like traditional patients.
Thanks to Will’s help, the conclusion to draw is that it is best to give CRPS patients short dental appointments. CRPS sufferers tire easily and their symptoms may be exacerbated by lengthy dental procedures. The progression of treatment recorded also shows that two doses of local anesthesia are beneficial; one before treatment and one prior to the conclusion of dental treatment. The two dose application allowed this patient comfortable treatment and no fatigue or generalized ache post operatively. It should be noted that this two dose technique has worked consecutively for Will on multiple appointments since this writing, Will has even had a three unit bridge placed without complications and without increasing the symptoms felt with CRPS.
Rhrp Approved Dental Treatments
Updated July 19, 2005