Eric Easson considers the professional challenges you might encounter in your first five years in dentistry after graduation.
Starting the next stage of your dental career after completing a BDS degree is exciting and possibly a bit scary too, away from the familiar surroundings and people. While most young graduates go onto thrive as independent dentists, being able to navigate some tricky situations is part of that process.
Here’s the DDU’s guide to the most common dento-legal issues faced by young dentists.
New starts
The first few years of your career will probably be punctuated with several workplaces as you explore different career options. Whenever you start somewhere new, make the most of the induction to get to grips with the policies and procedures, the computer system and your new colleagues. This will give you a head start when you see your first patient.
Check your contract
When you take an associate job, ensure you have a contract/legal agreement setting out things like remuneration, notice periods and retention fees. Don’t rush into signing it until you’re clear about your obligations and those of your practice owner because at that point it’s legally binding.
Leaving your practice
Problems can arise after you’ve moved on, such as a complaint or suspicion of poaching patients. For this reason, it’s best to part on good terms if you can and ensure the practice is still able to contact you to avoid any delay in responding to an unhappy patient. You should also discuss any departure announcement as you don’t want to mislead patients.
Working in a team
The GDC expects you to work effectively with colleagues and contribute to good teamwork in the patients’ interest. It’s also in your interests because other dental professionals can be good sources of guidance.
Clear, respectful two-way communication is essential to avoid misunderstandings and disputes when working alongside a dental nurse, delegating tasks to colleagues, or making a referral. If something does go wrong, being open and honest with your boss is more likely to rescue the situation than trying to blame others.
Working within your training and competence
One of the most daunting things about your early days as a registrant is being fully accountable for the planning, delivery, and management of patients’ treatment but there’s no shame in asking for help if a procedure is beyond your expertise.
The GDC says you must only carry out a task ‘if you are appropriately trained, competent, confident and indemnified’ and lack of experience cannot be used as mitigation should the patient suffer any harm.
Patient interactions
Independent practice involves working with a wider pool of patients with different needs. Most will understand and make allowances for your inexperience (within reason), but you will certainly need to draw on your communication skills to establish a good dentist-patient relationship.
Introduce yourself to the patient and explain your role in their care, listen to them without interrupting, avoid using jargon and take time to reassure the patient and provide further explanation if required. It’s especially important to be clear about things like costs.
Occasionally, you might have a difficult interaction. Try to stay calm and professional, and avoid talking over the patient as this could potentially create conflict. At the same time, familiarise yourself with any workplace zero tolerance policy and seek help immediately if you’re worried about your safety.
Record keeping
Records should be written up as soon as possible after a patient interaction, but it can be harder to manage this when you have a full waiting room. It’s worth seeking tips from more experienced colleagues if you’re struggling. Your dental team can support you, though it’s your responsibility to ensure the record is accurate and complete.
Your records should be concise and include relevant information such as findings on examination (including things that you looked for and didn’t find), diagnosis and discussions about treatment plans and risks. They should also be clear for anyone who sees the patient after you and in case of a complaint. Don’t use uncommon abbreviations and avoid personal comments. If you need to correct a factual error, indicate when and why you have made the correction. However, you should never try to alter your records in the event of a complaint or adverse incident.
CPD requirements
Once qualified, you must complete a minimum of 100 hours verifiable CPD over a five-year cycle in order to maintain your GDC registration. Your first CPD cycle begins at the start of your first full year of registration and the GDC expects you to complete at least 10 hours of CPD every two years and submit an annual CPD statement.
Get organised with a personal development plan (PDP) and CPD log so you can record dates, duration and evidence. While the GDC doesn’t routinely ask for your CPD records, it might in some circumstances so keep them safe.
Keep your indemnity up to date
Whether you plan to move to a dental associate post or start dental core training, you must have the right level of indemnity. You need to declare that you have indemnity when registering with the GDC and when renewing each year. It’s also in your interests to have access to dento-legal support, advice and representation. Talk to your dental defence organisation about what they can offer you as a newly qualified dentist.
Visit www.theddu.com to learn more about how the Dental Defence Union (DDU) can support you as you begin your career.
