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The case examiners considered a complaint relating to clinical treatment provided by the registrant to one patient on 9 October 2023. They found a real prospect of a practice committee finding all of the factual allegations proved and a real prospect of those allegations being found to amount to misconduct, but no real prospect of a practice committee finding the registrant’s fitness to practise to be currently impaired by reason of misconduct. The case examiners considered the alleged behaviour to represent a significant departure from the following professional standards (from Standards for the Dental Team, 2013): • 1.5: You must treat patients in a hygienic and safe environment • 4.1: You must make and keep contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records • 5.1: You must make sure that there is an effective complaints procedure readily available for patients to use, and follow that procedure at all times • 5.1: You must give patients who complain a prompt and constructive response • 7.1: You must provide good quality care based on current evidence and authoritative guidance The case examiners were satisfied that, having had regard to all the circumstances of the case, it would be appropriate and proportionate to issue to the registrant with a warning, to be published for a period of 6 months. This will satisfy the public interest in the matter and also indicate to the registrant and the wider profession that such conduct is unacceptable and must not be repeated. The registrant is reminded that this warning forms part of his fitness to practise history, even after it ceases to be published, and may need to be disclosed as requested. The case examiners formally warn the registrant that: • all dental professionals have a duty of candour to their patients. The registrant must ensure that when things go wrong he informs the patient of what has happened and why, fully responds to all relevant parts of any patient complaints, and offers a full and clear apology. Failure to do this may call into question his honesty • failure to respond to patient complaints in a comprehensive manner can add to a patient’s concerns. The registrant must respond to all complaints in line with appropriate complaints procedures and GDC Principles of Complaints Handling, so that patient complaints are dealt with in a thorough, timely and open fashion • care should be taken to ensure that any clinical equipment used to deliver care is functioning appropriately so as not to risk compromising patient safety • in the event of a patient safety incident, he should consider the most effective and appropriate aftercare and first-aid responses, including enlisting advice and support from on-site first aiders and considering the need for onward referral to other clinical services • appropriate and clinically justified radiographs should be taken and these should be carefully graded for quality assurance and a full report made within the clinical record. Any radiographs taken should be of sufficient diagnostic quality to ensure that diagnoses are confirmed and treatment is appropriate • failure to maintain accurate and detailed records can impact upon ongoing patient care. Clinical records must be sufficiently detailed so as to allow future audit or review, to understand any and all clinical considerations, justifications and potential diagnostic conclusions reached as well as the actions carried out by the registrant and the information discussed with the patient