What is the required action if a potential patient safety issue is identified during treatment?

• A. Document the issue and inform the patient, then continue treatment.
• B. Ignore the issue until it worsens.
• C. Contact the Board immediately.
• D. Notify the supervising dentist and document the concern per policy.

Answer: (D)

When a safety issue is identified, the immediate action is to alert the supervising dentist and document the concern according to the practice’s policy. The supervising dentist has the ultimate responsibility for patient care, so they need to be informed right away to assess the risk, decide on the appropriate course of action, and implement any necessary corrective steps. Documenting the concern creates a formal record of what happened, what was observed, and what actions were taken, which helps protect the patient and the clinician and ensures compliance with practice policies and licensing rules.

Ignoring the issue or continuing treatment would put the patient at risk and violate professional standards. Reaching out directly to the Board is typically not the required first step unless the policy specifies external reporting or there is a situation that constitutes immediate misconduct or harm that requires urgent Board involvement.