Profiles in patient safety: when an error occurs

Patient safety in dental care: A challenging quality issue? An exploratory cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about patient safety in primary oral healthcare. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze patient safety incidents in primary oral health care.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A random sample of 1000 patient records from 20 dental practices was reviewed retrospectively over 60 months. All adverse events (AEs) were noted: unintended events happening during treatment that resulted or could have resulted in harm to the patient.

RESULTS

A total of 46 (95% CI = 33-59) AEs was identified, of which 18 (95% CI = 10-26) were considered preventable. From these, 15 related to treatment, 10 to diagnostics and one to communication.

CONCLUSIONS

The low incidence of AEs and absence of major harm to patients suggests that primary oral care is safe for patients. However, the low quality of record keeping may imply underestimation.