As a vital part of patient management, general dental practitioners are expected to recognise the extent of their patient’s treatment needs and when referrals are necessary.

Clear and effective communication between all parties is essential in the referral process. This one-day multidisciplinary lecture will discuss important points the clinician needs to bear in mind when considering a referral to a specialist practitioner and clarify the various elements and responsibilities needed to provide the referred patient with the required level of professional care.

In those cases warranting it, timely and appropriate referral is of great importance in a dentist’s duty of care to their patient. Failure to inform a patient of the need for consultation and/or referral could expose the dentist to medicolegal complications.

The general dental practitioner is often required to make decisions about a patient’s treatment needs, whether the treatment is within their scope of practice or whether a referral to a specialist is required.

Discussions during this day will cover common considerations for all specialities and those specific to each speciality and the role of the general dental practitioner in timely referral with a view to the patients’ best interests.

Topics include

Referral aspects covering 8 dental specialties, including:

• Radiography
• Periodontics
• Paedodontics
• Orthodontics
• Prosthodontics
• Endodontics
• Oral Medicine
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Learning Objectives

• Potential areas of need for referrals 
• Referral pathways to specialist services
• Realise the advantages of referrals when needed
• Expedite the referral process
• Minimise treatment complications
• Improve communication between general and specialist practitioners
• Improve treatment outcomes in General practice