As a reputable dental care provider, you have a legal and moral obligation to treat your patients ethically. Without their consent, you cannot perform any procedure, including x-rays, restorations, cleanings, etc.

A written consent form is the primary document you will use to verify their approval. Understanding these documents will help you create a form that protects you and your staff from malpractice liabilities.

What Is a Dental Consent Form for Patients?

A signed consent form and verbal verification from your patient permit you to administer a dental treatment, procedure, or examination. These documents ensure that the patient understands the risks and benefits of the service, their rights to medical records, and other practice-specific policies. 

Consent forms show that you are performing legitimate medical care and not imposing treatment on a patient that they did not agree to. Most state laws require patients to sign a written document, while others may only require verbal consent. 

Exceptions to consent only apply during medical emergencies. In this case, you may act within reason to protect your patient’s life.

Your consent forms for dental treatment may differ from another practice’s. However, the ethical principles and responsibilities embedded in these documents will likely be the same.

How Should Your Dental Practice Use Consent Forms?

Some states provide templates or preexisting consent forms for you to use. However, if you decide to create your own from scratch, let a reputable lawyer review the form’s contents. They will ensure that the language you use does not put you at risk of medical malpractice.

Your form must verify three types of patient consent: voluntary, informed, and sane. 

Voluntary consent implies that your patient is signing the document without coercion from you or someone else. Informed consent confirms that you provided the necessary details about treatment recommendations and risks. Sane consent means your patient is lucid and sober when signing the document.

Federal law states that minors cannot consent to any treatment steps or procedures you offer. If your patient is under the age of 18, they should have a parent or guardian sign for them.  

You can have your patient sign a consent form in person using a Kiosk or online before appointments with tools like Dental Intelligence Consents. After your patient signs your consent forms for dental treatment, store them in a secure location. Remember that if your patient’s condition changes and you need to alter their treatment plan, you must have them re-sign an amended consent form.

What Should a Dental Practice Include in a Consent Form?

When writing or reviewing your dental consent form, ensure that the form covers the following information:

• Treatment options: Your consent form must outline all available options for treatment and why you believe your recommendation is the best choice.
• Consequences: the form must also transparently state the consequences and potential complications from treatment.
• Length of treatment: Your document must discuss how long your recommended treatment may take to administer.
• ‍Informed consent: Your consent forms for dental treatment must include evidence of consent. Signatures are the most practical and legally acceptable forms of evidence.

Consent is ongoing, meaning your patient’s signature is only evidence of consent and not consent by and of itself. Your patient has the right to verbally refuse permission at any time before or during treatment, regardless of a signature.

What Happens if a Patient Refuses to Sign a Dental Consent Form?

Though refusals will not happen often, you should expect a patient at some point to do so. 

When a patient refuses to sign your consent forms for dental treatment, document the refusal immediately. You can ask them to sign a refusal form to verify that they do not accept the treatment. If they do not sign the refusal, reiterate the potential problems that may arise without treatment.

At this point, you can refer them to a different practice or provide viable, alternative treatment options if they are available.

Dental Strategies That Help You Create an Informed Consent Document

Your top priority is to provide safe and ethical treatment for your patients. Consent is a vital aspect to consider before any treatment, and well-written, clear consent forms are the best way to ensure you ethically receive the patient’s consent.

You can learn more from our blog like what to include in new patient dental forms to prevent unnecessary lawsuits. 

Schedule a demo today for more information about our Digital Forms and Consents.