Patient Safety

Question 1

Who has the responsibility over patient safety?

Answer 1

Clinician (and dental student)

Question 2

Describe 3 things a patient must be to have ability to safely receive treatment

Answer 2

1. Medically fit
2. Capacity
3. Consent

Question 3

Describe best practice with regards to patient safety

Answer 3

• Try to avoid adverse incidents
• Get help from supervisor promptly
• Be open with patients
• Ensure notes are written in detail recording incident
• Reporting systems with IR1 forms

Question 4

Describe the issue with a clinician accidentally sticking a LA needle in themselves following giving it to a patient

Answer 4

Clinician could potentially get infected with patient blood which may contain BBV

Question 5

Describe what happens next following a clinician accidentally sticking a LA needle in themselves following giving it to a patient

Answer 5

• First aid measures
• Inform supervisor and patients
• Complete treatment if possibly
• Complete necessary Sharps paperwork / Occupational health
• IR1 form

Question 6

Describe how the issue with a clinician accidentally sticking a LA needle in themselves following giving it to a patient could be prevented

Answer 6

Better awareness, retraction of soft tissues and care while giving LA

Question 7

Describe the issue with a clinician accidentally embedding bur in soft mucosa while carrying out a restoration

Answer 7

• Emergency situation

- Patient has a foreign body embedded in their mucosa

Question 8

Describe what happens next following a clinician accidentally embedding bur in soft mucosa while carrying out a restoration

Answer 8

• Stop what you are doing
• Retrieve the bur if safe
• Immediately seek help from supervisor
• Inform and reassure patient
• Temporise and postpone treatment
• Complete detailed notes recording what happened
• IR1 form, reflect and learn and review patient

Question 9

Describe how the issue where a clinician accidentally embedding bur in soft mucosa while carrying out a restoration may be prevented

Answer 9

• Better awareness, retraction and care while drilling

- Have good communication to allow the breaks if they need to close up their mouth

Question 10

Describe the issue with a bur becoming dislodged into the patient’s mouth and could not be found

Answer 10

• Equipment has gone missing and cannot be found
• Could be aspirated by patient into lungs
• Emergency situation

Question 11

Describe what happens next following a bur becoming dislodged into the patient’s mouth and could not be found

Answer 11

• Stop immediately and call over supervisor
• Inform patient
• Search for missing bur (floor / suction)
• Complete treatment if possible
• If bur cannot be found need to go to A+E for chest x-ray
• Complete detailed notes recording what happened
• IR1 form, reflect and learn and review patient

Question 12

Describe how a bur becoming dislodged into the patient’s mouth and could not be found may be prevented

Answer 12

Ensure the bur is securely seated in the handpiece

Question 13

Describe how patient’s soft tissues can be protected

Answer 13

Retraction, appropriate light sources and protection with visor / bib

Question 14

Name 4 ways retraction can be achieved

Answer 14

1. Cotton wool rolls placed buccally
2. Fast suction used
3. Mirror used
4. Rubber dam isolated teeth

Question 15

Describe 3 basic potential hazards with regards to soft tissue damage in a dental surgery

Answer 15

1. Soflex discs and pogos can cause serious tissue damage
2. Grazing arm against burs in holder
3. Leads on the floor are potential trip hazard