For the record

Aim

By the end of reading this article, the dental nurse will have understood their role in record keeping within the surgery environment.

Objectives

GDC development outcomes A

According to the General Dental Council (2013) patients expect:

As dental professionals, we are reminded that good record keeping is part of our professional practice and the mark of a safe and skilled dental registrant.

Patients have a right to expect that clinicians will examine them thoroughly, ask the right questions, diagnose their needs correctly, provide a clear treatment plan and treat them accordingly (Faculty of General Dental Practice, 2016). That is more than acceptable, and exactly what we would expect when being looked after by any healthcare professional.