A new perspective on dental malpractice: practice enhancement through risk management.

BACKGROUND: Risk management in dentistry has been developed over the years by concentrating on recording treatment in dental records and informing patients of the proposed treatment before treating them. This article advances the concept of risk management through higher involvement of the entire office staff by increasing communication with patients.
CONCLUSIONS: By integrating practice management concepts with risk management techniques, dentists can reduce risk management exposure and improve patients' awareness, understanding and follow-through on the treatment of their dental needs. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Practice enhancement through risk management not only improves patient care and reduces risk exposure, but it also brings the dental team together in an effort to improve patient care. In this way, the office will have improved patient acceptance of proposed dental care and an increase in office growth.