La relacion entre la calidad de la ensenanza y mala prática odontológica: relato de un caso clínico

The activities developed in health area are of great importance, because they have the aim to preserve the life of the men, and therefore, must be performed by authorized persons. The increase of the number of dental schools, the decline at the education quality and a higher admission of students with low ability to exercise their profession, are facts that bring disastrous consequences for society. These facts are, also, reflected at the moral, ethical and technical-scientific performance of the professional. The purpose of this clinic case is to show that although there is a significant suplly of education institutions, there is a lack of scientific and adequate technical knowledgement from the graduated dentals surgeons. The patient MSL, 17 year old, female, went to a dental clinic presenting a tray type Vernis, attached to the lower arch. After clinical evaluation, it was showed that an incorrect material was used for the impression technique, being impossible to take out the tray by the conventional manner. The planning for the removal of the tray was through the divide of it. Thus, the consequence of the lack of knowledge in the use of impression materials had caused a great incovinience to the patient. It can be concluded that the rate of malpractice is directly related to the professional preparation, highlighting the importance of quality dental education for a responsible clinical practice.

Responsabilidad profesional del cirujano odontólogo: ¿qué piensan los abogados?

The number of lawsuits against dental surgeons has increased considerably in the recent years. Probably this is due to a change in the behavior of the patients, from a passive role in the past to a more demanding stance now. A transversal study was carried out to evaluate the point of view of lawyers in Araçatuba, SP, Brazil, about the professional liability of dentist, the major reasons for treatment failure, the dental specialties more involved in legal actions, their attitudes if they were submitted to an unsuccessful dental treatment, their opinion on what the dentist should do when a patient does not accept the treatment provided, and, finally, what a dentist should do when facing a civil liability action. A questionnaire was sent to 318 lawyers, and 151 of them answered it. The results show that for most lawyers an occasional failure in the treatment occurs due to professional incompetence and, in their opinion, the specialty more involved in legal problems is orthodontics (64.7%). Of the lawyers interviewed, 27.0% affirmed they would seek another dentist and also a lawyer, if they were subjected to an unsuccessful dental treatment. For 36.5% of them, the dentist should give further information and explain the reasons why the treatment did not meet the patient's expectations. According to 36.1% of the interviewees the best policy to be adopted by the dentist in case of a civil liability action would be an extra judicial settlement.