Iatrogenic Misadventures Flashcards
Patient comes in with a correctable problem. We correctly DX
the problem and institute TX to correct.
Even though attempting to help the patient, we MAY create a
bigger problem which may NOT be correctable.
This is an — error (our bad) and should be largely
preventable with (4)
iatrogenic
education, focus, care and experience.
skipped
Intelligent Case Selection***
(Most Important KEY to success and
prevention of predictable errors/incidents)
- Honest appraisal of current skills/experience levels
- Thorough knowledge of morphology
- Realistic appraisal of shaping objectives
- Proper straight-line access; Good Technique
- Magnification/lighting/specialized equipment and supplies
- Time available to do a decent job
- Patient able to cooperate*
If you can’t look at the case and be
certain of an excellent result in your
hands, you are honor bound to refer the
case to the appropriate specialist*
skipped
Always Start with proper
Case Presentation*
((4)
- Presentation of possible TX
options (risks v. benefits) - Honest explanation of all
possible misadventures before
treatment is started (use non-
technical terms) - Patient must have all
questions answered before TX
is accepted - Patient must understand* and
sign informed consent before
TX begins.
Explaining away mishaps AFTER they
occur destroys
credibility and voids the
consent and your permission to
proceed.
Creates distrust & additional
LIABILITY.
Another of Murphy’s Lesser Known
Laws as applied to Endodontics:
“The BIGGEST
problems ALWAYS
occur when you have the
LEAST time to deal with
them” RRR
If you don’t have time to fix it right in the 1st place,
how will you now do it better with even LESS time?
Iatrogenic Misadventures:
(7)
- Wrong Tooth (commission)
- Missed Canal(s) (omission)
- Separated Instrument
- Ledging, Blockage & Transportation
(Zipping) Apical perforation - Blow Outs
- Short & Long Fills
- Perforations & Strip-perfs
skipped
1. WRONG TOOTH
(4)
- Entry into the wrong tooth often becomes a prelude to an expensive tour of our Court system.
- Be certain you can prove and document your Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
- Be sure you make a mark on the tooth you want to work on BEFORE you place the rubber dam*** Access w/o rubber dam when indicated – except for Board Exams.
- Reconfirm all information one more time.It’s always your fault and there is NO EXCUSE*
- WRONG TOOTH: What do you do?
* Procedure:
– FIRST: LEAVE THE ROOM & COMPOSE
YOURSELF
– Plan on Free Work
– Compensate the patient . . . Or his Attorney
- Take Responsibility(Most Important)
– What would YOU expect as the patient?
– DO “the RIGHT THING”
- WRONG TOOTH: What do you do?
Score Card:–
You RCT the wrong tooth at N/C
– You also RCT the RIGHT tooth at N/C for “Good Will”
– You pay for the Crown on the wrong tooth
– You may also pay for the crown on the RIGHT tooth
* Pray you don’t screw up anything else
doing all this free work.
— is
always better,
cheaper &
faster than
remediation
Prevention
- MISSED CANAL
Missing a Canal will guarantee a
FAILURE (sooner or later)
Fix it now or pay to have it fixed (+ new crowns)
Look closely and expect the unexpected
- Missed the Whole Root
Look for this 4th root (4th canal - DL) :
May be evident only as a
“Bulls eye”
Especially in Native Americans and
some Asian populations.
D-L Root exits coronal portion of
tooth in a lingual direction and often
curves abruptly back to the facial -
Difficult
- File Separation
If you tell me you have never separated a
file . . . You simply haven’t done much
endo. Proceed with CARE***Prevent
4 approaches: When Prevention Fails!
- remove the instrument (REFER)
- bypass the instrument
- apical surgery & retrofill
- TE + alternate treatment option
Try to get all your file separation done in LAB before you get to
Clinic or real life. Much LESS EXPENSIVE*
- File Separation
TX Decision & Prognosis depend upon:
(2)
-The location of the separated instrument
(deep in canal or around curve very ???)
-If the canal has been or can be adequately
cleaned & shaped, disinfected and filled.
- File Separation
- How much of the tooth will be —
to attempt to remove the separated file
- ***what is best for the patient & the tooth.
This is serious, difficult and constitutes a
— situation in most cases.
OFTEN-
destroyed
REFERRAL
the more you do to fix the problem,
the worse it gets! Stop,Think,Refer
- File Separation
Rarely does it makes sense to Tell the Patient of the
problem at the time, then Fill, then Wait and see if it
will do OK without further intervention.
(3)
-if CLEAN
-if not LONG or SHORT
- if you can FOLLOW the patient – for sure
You can still apply 1 of the 4 approaches if it
becomes troublesome
Why did I say: “Tell the patient” ?