Miguel Stanley and Rhona Eskander look at how to improve the standards of care in dental practices worldwide.

UK dentistry can be a minefield. Indeed, patients are continually bombarded with advertising or website links to places they don’t know will suit them.

How do we know what is safe? How will we ensure that our needs are met?

The genesis of Slow Dentistry is not only a blessing, but also a necessity. As a platform, it aims to improve the standards of care in dental practices worldwide to ensure patients safety, wellbeing, comfort and understanding. This is a never done before platform that the UK needs.

The founders are building a global network of member clinics committed to taking time with you in your appointments.

They do not interfere in any medical aspects of your treatment, nor do they monitor or control clinics and dentists on the quality of their medical services.

The network is built on four cornerstones – rubber dam, proper disinfection, anaesthesia and informed consent:

Rubber dam

Rubber dam is a rubber sheet used to protect the oral cavity. Use of rubber dam in root canal treatments and other treatments where the teeth need to be isolated to prevent cross contamination is sought after.

Proper disinfection

Dentistry, and indeed all medical premises, are highly contagious and the influx of patients means cross contamination needs to be controlled. However, this must be done effectively and safely. As one of Slow Dentistry’s cornerstones; proper disinfection between each patient is a necessity.

Full and appropriate disinfection of the dental unit in accordance with universal and country specific guidelines to avoid cross contamination (such as washing hands, dental chair, handles, floor and surfaces).

Anaesthesia

Pain is not what we want any of our patients to experience. Slow Dentistry endorses fully effective anaesthetic of the area of the mouth to be treated before initiating treatment (if required).

Informed consent

Consent to treatment means a person must give permission before they receive any type of medical treatment, test or examination.

This must be done on the basis of an explanation by a clinician. Patients must be informed of all their options and make the decisions accordingly.

The validity of consent has prerequisites. It must be voluntary and informed, and the person consenting must have the capacity to make the decision.

• Voluntary – the decision to either consent or not to treatment must be made by the person. No external influences should play a part, such as friends and family
• Informed – all information about the procedures, risks and material risks must be disclosed. Indeed, the patient needs to be given the risks, whether there are reasonable alternative treatments, and what will happen if treatment does not go ahead
• Capacity – the person must be capable of giving consent, which means they understand the information given to them and can use it to make an informed decision.

Original article: https://dentistry.co.uk/2021/03/13/the-slow-dentistry-way-improving-standards-of-care/