Dental Protection Australia

This year we’ve shared many podcasts that have identified areas of risk and shared information, moments and cases that we can all learn from. For our last podcast of 2024, we wanted to flip our focus and share a feel-good story, reminding us that not all complaints end badly.Too often we can focus on the negative but prior to the year's end we hope that you can each take some time to reflect on, acknowledge and celebrate some of your triumphs and successes, be it professionally, personally or both. Happy holidays everyone.

In this episode of RiskMatters, Senior Dento-legal Dr Annalene Weston speaks with Emeritus Professor Laurie Walsh about the recent changes to the Infection control guidance, namely the replacement of the Standard 4815 with AS 5369 – Reprocessing of reusable medical devices and other devices in health and non-health related facilities, as well as the subsequent updating of the ADA infection control guidance. Their discussion goes on to include additional topics about AI’s role in infection control and the environmental impact of disposable items in dentistry.  2.23 - Why did the guidance change?6.06 - Has covid had a big impact on the guidance?8.00 - How regularly should we attend IC CPD?10.50 - Current position regarding air removal and steam penetration tests?14.05 - Where do people find consultations?16.25 - 'Small office' sterilisers18.37 - How often should we go into our steri rooms to check?21.50 - Future IC assistance in IC?26.28 - ABHR in lieu of handwashing?29.04 - Laundering gowns32.53 - Environmental impact of dentistry - sustainable alternatives?

Is truth linked to fact? Is it a rigid and fixed construct or is it moveable, expanding and contracting like a rubber band.   In many ways truth can be subjective and is often seated in an individual’s perception of the facts, what they have experienced, what they believe they have experienced and what they want to believe they have experienced.  Unfortunately, when perceptions of truth don’t align, it can it result in practitioners bearing the brunt of a very unhappy patient.    In this episode of RiskBites, Dentolegal consultants Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Kiran Keshwara discuss the elasticity of truth, sharing helpful advice on how practitioners can avoid being stung or blamed, when the band of truth recoils or potentially snaps.

Join Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Kiran Keshwara, dentolegal consultants at Dental protection as they discuss the issue of Burnout, one of the most pressing concerns for contemporary dental practitioners globally.Annalene is a champion for interventions that safeguard the needs of dental professionals and in this episode, she explains what Burnout is, how it feels and how it can present in ourselves, our colleagues and in our practice.Annalene and Kiran, also discuss the concept of a third space and how we can utilise this space that sits ‘in between’ to our benefit.

The thought of litigation can unsettle the most seasoned practitioner. A question often asked by members who have received notification, or a threat of legal proceedings is …. ‘When can patients sue?’In this episode of RiskBites Senior dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Kiran Keshwara, from Dental protection discuss the how, when and why patients can successfully sue their dentist.They go on to explain the process of legal claims and provide sequential advice on how to proceed if you do find yourself in receipt of letter from a lawyer.  Concluding their discussion with helpful tips and advice on how you can avoid a complaint or adverse outcome escalating to a legal claim in the first place.

Receiving a solicitors letter can be a terrifying experience for any practitioner, particularly when you read it, and are unsure what it means for you and your registration Join Senior Dentolegal Consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Mike Rutherford from Dental Protection as they discuss the different types of letters that can be received, and what to do when they are.

In this episode of RiskBites, Senior dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Ralph Neller focus on how practitioners can best capture their discussions about risk and warnings in their clinical records. Annalene and Ralphs discussion highlights the challenges faced by practitioners when their records fail to evidence these discussions and provide helpful advice of how to document both general and particular risks specific to each procedure and patient

The internet and virtual communication have brought significant gains to our profession and although this might only seem positive, in reality, there is a downside. The fallout from these advances can result in unexpected and unintended consequences for practitioners and patients alike. Join Senior Dentolegal Consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Colm Harney from Dental Protection as they discuss the phenomenon of ‘online disinhibition effect’ and the role it plays in online communication. They identify the positive and the negative effects of this behaviour as well as areas where practitioners can easily find themselves amiss or in precarious situations. Helping you to recognise these behaviours in yourself and in your patients and respond accordingly.

At Dental Protection, we are seeing an increase in the number of calls from members who are dealing with upset, angry or aggressive patients.In this episode of RiskBites, Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dentolegal consultant Dr Kiran Keshwara provide helpful advice on how to recognise an upset or angry patient and provide tips and strategies on how to manage these challenging situations, achieving this best outcome possible for you and your patient.

Some aspects of communication with patients are not just necessary, they are vital to ensuring the success of your business and or your individual reputation. In this episode of RiskBites, Dental Protections Senior dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and our inhouse lawyer Helen Harbourne, discuss the importance of establishing clear professional and personal boundaries with patients from the outset. Identifying the types of patients who might seek to challenge these boundaries, and how best to manage these patients and their care.

Saying no to patients or refusing treatment can be difficult for any well-meaning and caring practitioners. In this episode of RiskBites, Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Kiran Keshwara from Dental Protection focus on the critical subject of how we say no to patients, asking and answering that all-important question ‘Can we do it,  should we do and if we should, how are we going to do it'

Members often suggest content for our podcasts, usually in areas of interest or where they perceive there is a need for more information.  Body dysmorphic disorder is one such area, which most would agree is both poorly understood in the dental profession and the broader community. In this edition of RiskBites Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Mike Rutherford focus on the role of body dysmorphic disorder and how it impacts on our ability to achieve patient satisfaction.

Aesthetic dentistry is an exciting area of dentistry, one that has accelerating in growth and popularity among patients and practitioners alike. While it can be very rewarding, it doesn’t come without its own specific set of risks and complications. Risks that are often far reaching and more challenging than routine dentistry.In this episode of RiskBites, Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dr Kiran Keshwara from Dental Protection discuss the potential pitfall of aesthetic dentistry and provide helpful tips and advice on how to avoid such issues arising in the first place.

“Why me?” Dr Mike Rutherford and Dr Annalene Weston discuss why you may have received an audit letter.Further Resourceshttps://www.dentalprotection.org/australia/publications-resources/dentolegal-articles/articles/i-have-received-an-audit-letter-from-a-health-fund-or-medicare_This episode is part of our podcast series, RiskBites, which provides short, bite-sized guidance around some of the key issues impacting the dental profession right now.

Join Dr David Hallett and Dr Annalene Weston in our latest RiskMatters podcast ‘Why are item numbers so important?’. This insightful discussion on dental item numbers will cover the appropriate use of the ADA glossary codes and in contrast their inappropriate use. Listen as we explore key topics such as why dental practitioners are audited by health funds and Medicare, how the process works and what the best possible outcomes are. Also, find out why dental records are important when it comes to verifying the claims you make.1.25 – Who writes the Glossary? 1.56 – Health Funds and billing in a multi-appointment procedure 4.45 – Medicare regulation and the use of the Glossary codes5.30 – Why was I selected for a Medicare or Health Fund audit?11.35 – Upcoding17.00 – Release of patient records to Health Funds19.55 – Dental records and their importance in verifying claims24.10 – Audit outcomes31.05 – Potential consequences of a negative audit finding on your provider number37.10 – Splitting treatment codes over Health Fund years42.23 – Study model or working model? 46.10 – Treating friends and family members

Did you know that CaseMatters titles are genuine quotes from patient complaints that Dental Protection have assisted member with across the globe? The title of this CaseMatters podcast is “I thought she knew what she was doing’ which involved the provision of cosmetic veneers.   When a breakdown in communication unexpectedly occurred, the unfortunate result was a complaint to the regulator, a regulatory caution and a legal compensation claim.

In this episode of RiskBites Senior dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston and Dental Protections inhouse lawyer Helen Harbourne discuss a particular type of allegation being increasingly argued in compensations claims, this being assault battery, and trespass. Listen in as Annalene and Helen discuss what these terms mean in the eyes of the law and how you can avoid being subject to such accusations.

Join Dr Annalene Weston, Senior Dentolegal Consultant at Dental Protection and Associate Professor Dr Matthew Hopcraft in this personal and informative episode of Risk Matters, titled “The road less travelled”. Listen in as Annalene and Matt revisit his early introduction into dentistry, talk through his illustrious career and explore different ways in which we can use our dental degree, based on their own journeys through the profession.

Join Dentolegal consultant Dr Simon Parsons and Senior Dentolegal consultant Dr Annalene Weston at Dental Protection, as they consider that in point in time where a patient moves from being a disgruntled patient to a complainant.In this episode Simon recalls a case where a dental practitioner placed six veneers and despite feeling like he had done everything right and the case was a success, his patient was unforgiving when unexpected issues arose.

Join Dr Annalene Weston, Senior Dentolegal consultant at Dental Protection and Case Manger Kristin Trafford Wiezel as they consider that point in time when a patient moves from being a disgruntled patient to a complainant. In this episode Kristin and Annalene discuss a case that highlights the difficulties encountered by practitioners when dealing with complaints, acknowledging that at times these complaints can feel more like a personal attack. In these situations, Annalene and Kristin remind us that during these times our initial ‘emotional response’ is often not the best response.