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Handout -Don't be caught off guard - the ins and outs of contemporary dentistry

Occupational health issues

Infectious hazards:

  • Needles/sharp objects, spatter and aerosols
  • Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and hepatitis. Bacterial (eg syphilis and tuberculosis)

Allergic reactions:

  • Allergic skin reactions - dental materials, detergents, oils, solvents, and X-ray processing chemicals

Ionizing radiation: 

  • Taking radiographs in the dental office

Non-ionizing radiation:

  • Curing lights, eye hazard - lasers in dentistry

Psychological hazards:

  • Dentistry may be viewed as a stressful occupation
  • Negative perception of dentistry as a profession filled with dangers

Physical hazards:

  • Musculoskeletal complications related to performing dental procedures - postural situations

Course of action:

  • Stay updated on how to deal with dental materials, and special medical care
  • Sound infection control practices
  • Continuing education
  • Vaccination (eg Hep B)

Dental Board Code of Conduct

 

3. Working with patients

          3.5 Informed Consent - Fees and financial consent

a) Patients or clients should be made aware of all fees and charges involved in a course of treatment, preferably before the health service is provided
b) Discussion regarding fees should be discussed appropriate to the professional relationship and should cover cost of all required services and general agreement about the level of treatment to be provided.

 
Section 133 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, prohibits advertising that: 
  • is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to be so
  • offers a gift, discount or other inducement to attract a user of the health service without stating the terms and conditions of the offer
  • uses testimonials or purported testimonials
  • creates an unreasonable expectation of beneficial treatment, and/or
  • encourages the indiscriminate or unnecessary use of health services.

 


Section 133 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, prohibits advertising that: 
  • is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to be so
  • offers a gift, discount or other inducement to attract a user of the health service without stating the terms and conditions of the offer
  • uses testimonials or purported testimonials
  • creates an unreasonable expectation of beneficial treatment, and/or
  • encourages the indiscriminate or unnecessary use of health services.

3. Working with patients

 All advertising must comply with the provisions of:

  • The National Law on the advertising of regulated health services
  • Relevant consumer protection legislation
  • State and territory fair trading Acts and
  • Legislation regulating the advertising of therapeutic goods (if applicable).

  Important AHPRA/ Dental Board publications to minimise your risk of consumer complaints and/or regulator intervention (Can be found at dentalboard.gov.au)

  • Social media policy
  • Guidelines for advertising regulated health services
  • Dental guidelines - Scope of practice registration standards

MIPS conditions

  • Duty of disclosure
  • Keeping us informed
  • Membership classification - Ensure your membership classification best describes the healthcare services you provide currently as well as for any prior practice in your risk history. If your membership classification is incorrect or you do not provide the necessary information for MIPS to determine your membership classification you may prejudice the membership entitlements available to you including insurance covers. 

 

  • Specified dental procedure extension is required if you are a general dentist and you undertake the following 'specified dental procedures' in a non-employer indemnified (private) setting:

- surgical placement of dental implants
- bridgework, crowns or veneers in excess of three units  on adjacent teeth
- conscious sedation as defined by AHPRA
-maxillo-facial or dento-alveolar surgery by non-specialists in high risk situations (high-risk situations include severe tooth impaction and where teeth are in close approximation to critical structures such as nerve supply and sinuses). 

Contact us

General/membership enquiries
1800 061 113 or
+61 3 8620 8888 outside Australia
info@mips.com.au

24 hour Clinico-Legal Advice & Support
1800 021 223 or
+61 3 8620 8829 outside Australia
claims@mips.com.au

Postal address
PO Box 24240
Melbourne VIC 3001