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Many records created by clinicians are written in haste under the pressures of time, and can contain minimal detail. Record keeping can seem to be a little boring sometimes. It is often viewed as an administrative chore that must be completed after the patient has left. Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth.

By contrast, records made by non-clinical personnel and other members of the dental team are often of a far higher standard. They usually contain more of the relevant clinical details and frequently represent a more comprehensive account of an episode of treatment.

Most clinicians will tell you that the problem relates to a shortage of time. Clinicians are busy people and spend most of their time talking to patients and treating them. To make matters worse, if the dentist is running late in a hectic appointment schedule, he or she will need to catch up by saving time wherever possible.