The dentist breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights after fitting braces on a girl in 2014. They were then removed and replaced with aligners until the dentist said the treatment was complete in 2016.
Three years later, her mother took her to a specialist orthodontist because she was unhappy with her previous orthodontic treatment.
The orthodontist found that the teen had severe root resorption in eight of her teeth and had two teeth that were severely affected by short roots.
She recommended that the teen undergo upper and lower braces and surgery on the jaw.
However, her mother said the dentist told her he was an orthodontist, or made her believe so.
She said she would not have taken her daughter to him for such a large amount of dental work if she had known he was not an orthodontist.
She said the dentist should have identified her daughter's short root and jaw problem in the X-rays he took in 2014.
Assistant Commissioner for Health and Disability Dr Vanessa Caldwell ruled that the dentist had breached consumer rights under the Code of Health and Disability Services for failing to promptly refer the teen to a specialist to undergo treatment for which he was not had been trained or was not sufficiently experienced to provide it. and for failing to maintain complete, accurate patient records that met relevant professional and ethical standards.
“The lack of clear, well-documented clinical records hindered my investigation into the clinical aspects of this complaint,” she said.
“Additionally, more extensive, detailed clinical records would have assisted the dentists who subsequently provided the treatment.”
Caldwell also found that the dentist did not obtain adequate informed consent for the braces.
Not only was the documentation of the informed consent process lacking, but the informed consent discussion took place on the day the brace was fitted, not allowing the teen and her mother sufficient time to consider the treatment and its risks.
She advised the dentist to issue a written apology.