Dental Hygiene Case Summary

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A pediatric client comes to the dental clinic for her dental hygiene appointment. The client is about eight years of age, quiet, and has good manners. The client is also well liked by the dental hygienist and has a history of good personal and oral health. Upon, the intraoral examination revealed that the client's maxillary central incisors were fractured. The dental hygienist asked how it happened, and the client said she fell off her bike. During a follow up dental appointment, the dental hygienist saw that the client's maxillary central incisors were repaired, but this time she also had bruising around both of her eyes. The client said she fell down the stairs at home when asked by the dental hygienist. The mother of the patient was also in the room but did not say anything. The client did see three other dentists in the same city for dental treatment previously, and now she is a current client. The dental hygienist should suspect …show more content…
Beneficence is to do no harm and dental hygienist should uphold this principle to protect their clients. Documentation is of most significance from the dental hygienist observations and findings. In documenting, what he or she observed, the location, size, shape, and color should be properly documented (Kimbrough-Walls, 2012). In certain situations, taking a picture of the injury is not feasible, then a drawing should be done instead. X-rays can be done in suspected child abuse situations; therefore, the parents' consent may not be necessary (Kimbrough-Walls). The dental healthcare team should be familiarized on what is lawfully allowed without the approval of the parents (Kimbrough-Walls, 201). Consulting with social workers, doctors, and other healthcare professionals can be beneficial for the client (Darby,