[Complaints about dental treatment: solving 2 practice dilemmas].

As far as we know, very little has been published in dental literature on how patients' complaints about their dentist's treatment are assessed and what methods are used to try and resolve these complaints with the accused dentist. On the basis of 2 cases, a successful strategy of dental advisers is outlined. How they developed a strategy to resolve the complaint satisfactorily, drawing on knowledge of the use of conversation techniques, with the accused dentist is emphasised.

[Consent for treatment: a results or a reasonable endeavours agreement? Two alternatives with significant practical differences to dentists].

The character of a consent for treatment is not a mere hobby for lawyers; it also has consequences in daily practicein the Netherlands, particularly if it concerns questions of who should prove what in proceedings. In general, consent agreements can be divided into an obligation to achieve results and an obligation to use reasonable endeavours. In oral healthcare, there is usually a question of an obligation to use reasonable endeavours, in which professional standards must play a leading role in the behaviour of the dentist; and here there have been a number of recent developments, such as an increase in the number of (clinical) guidelines and the acceptance of wish fulfilling medicine, under strict conditions.

The impact of a formal complaint on Dutch dentists' professional practice: a survey study.

Background: A complaint from a patient can have a serious impact on the well-being of dentists. Little is known, however, about the nature and the extent of this impact.

Methods: Therefore in 2013 an anonymous survey was conducted among 955 dentists and dental specialists who were involved in a complaints procedure dealt with by the Complaints Committee of the Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT) in the period of mid-2008 to mid-2013.

[Dentists' judgement of the complaint procedure of the Royal Dutch Dental Association].

In 2013, to evaluate the functioning of the complaint procedure of the Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT), an anonymous, written survey was conducted among 955 dentists and dental specialists, for whom in the period mid-2008 to mid-2013 a complaint was handled. 413 (43%) participated in the study. 51% of them reported that the complaint was successfully mediated by the Regional Mediation Boards and the Specialist Mediation Board and 17% that the patient had withdrawn the complaint.

[The well-being of dentists following a complaint procedure].

It is known that a patient's complaint can have a serious impact on the well-being of dentists. But little is known on the nature and the extent of this impact. That's why in 2013 an anonymous survey was conducted among 955 dentists and dental specialists, for whom in the period mid-2008 to mid-2013 a complaint was handled through the Complaint Committee of the Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT).

[Dentistry and healthcare legislation 11. The dentist and the civil law judge: claims].

In contrast to the law governing complaints and to disciplinary law, a civil law judge can sentence dentists to the restoration of all damages to patients. For this to happen, there has to be evidence of damage, responsibility and a causal connection. For the assumption of responsibility as well as a causal connection, an important question is whether a dentist has violated a relevant guideline or protocol.

[Dentistry and healthcare legislation 6. The effect of self-regulation in dental healthcare].

Regulations which have been established by the professional community or by an organization of which a dentist is a member (self-regulation) have a more significant legal effect on dental care than many dentists realize. A dentist can only deviate from these regulations if he does so when motivated by the patient's best interests. Self-regulation can be relevant at the level of the professional community, the organization or the individual dentist.

Predictors for the development of temporomandibular disorders in scuba divers.

The aim was to determine predictors for the development of complaints of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in a large sample of Dutch scuba divers who were free of any TMD complaints before they started diving actively. Five-hundred and thirty-six scuba divers (mean ± SD age = 40.4 ± 11.

[Dentistry and healthcare legislation 10. The law governing complaints: readily accessible filing procedures].

The law promises patients a readily accessible means of filing complaints. Healthcare providers are therefore required to adopt regulations governing complaints which satisfy a number of conditions. Most dentists choose to adopt the regulations which have been established by their professional organization.

[Dentistry and healthcare legislation 9. The dentist and the disciplinary court case].

Disciplinary law can be seen as an element in the system that protects the quality of dental care and in that way helps to maintain the high level of trust which the public has in the profession. A disciplinary court case is regarded by dentists as very taxing. This is in part a result of unfamiliarity with the procedure.