The case of the wrong tooth.

As can be seen from this report, multifactorial considerations are often present in an orthodontic case. Office policy considerations regarding interoffice communications should be reviewed periodically as to their sufficiency. Interpersonal communications are vitally important from both a risk management standpoint and also from the perspective of maintaining a good doctor-patient relationship. Practitioners today need to keep a wary eye open regarding all possible treatment alternatives, even bizarre ones, should the clinical situation dictate the need for them. Good recordkeeping and documentation are omnipotent should one have the need to defend one's actions. This applies not only to radiographs, photographs, and treatment charts but to records of third-party conversations as well. The doctrine of informed consent should act as a guideline to what information need be transmitted to the patient, both at the beginning and throughout treatment, as it can often help calm potentially troubled waters. Finally, a little luck never hurt anybody.