Question

The mother of an 8-year-old girl states that the child slipped in the bathtub and fractured her "front teeth" a few minutes ago. The child appears to be in no great distress, and the dentist is in the middle of a surgical procedure. What should the dentist do in this situation?

A. Refer the mother to the office secretary to make a future appointment.
B. Assure the mother that the child is in no distress and there is no need for treatment.
C. Stop the surgical procedure and examine the child, take radiographs, and render necessary treatment.
D. Perform a cursory examination to determine that there is no urgency and ask both mother and daughter to be seated in the waiting room until treatment can be rendered.
E. Inform the secretary to explain politely to the mother that it takes time to diagnose and treat and that it is not possible to see the child without an appointment, and to direct them to another dentist or the nearest hospital.

Answer 1

A dentist should perform a cursory examination of the child who fractured her teeth and determine the severity before deciding on an appropriate response, which may involve waiting for treatment or being directed to urgent care.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario where an 8-year-old girl has fractured her teeth following a slip in the bathtub, the ethical and professional responsibility of the dentist, especially when in the midst of a surgical procedure, is to ensure that the child receives timely and appropriate care while managing their current surgical obligations. The option for the dentist is to perform a cursory examination to assess urgency and then have the child and mother wait in the waiting room if the case is not pressing, or if possible, direct them to seek immediate care elsewhere, such as another dentist or hospital.

A decision should be made on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as the severity of the fracture, the distress level of the child, and the nature of the ongoing surgical procedure. If the child's injury is not causing distress and does not require immediate intervention, it may be acceptable to wait until the dentist can provide proper care. However, if the injury is severe and needs immediate attention, the dentist should guide the mother to seek urgent care elsewhere while ensuring they follow up adequately.