| Preamble
Adopted 1994
The American Dental Association developed
these dental practice parameters for voluntary use by practicing
dentists. The parameters are intended, foremost, as an aid to
clinical decision making and thus, they describe clinical considerations
in the diagnosis and treatment of oral health conditions. Evaluation
in the context of these parameters includes diagnosis.
Additionally, parameters will assist the dental profession by
providing the basis on which the profession’s commitment
to high-quality care can be demonstrated and can continue to
be improved.
The dental practice parameters are condition-based, presenting
an array of possible diagnostic and treatment considerations
for oral health conditions. Condition-based parameters, rather
than procedure-based parameters, were determined to be the most
useful because this approach recognizes the need for integrated
treatments of oral conditions rather than emphasizing isolated
treatment procedures. The parameters are also oriented toward
the process of care and describe elements of diagnosis and treatment.
While the parameters describe the common elements of diagnosis
and treatment, it is acknowledged that unique clinical circumstances,
and individual patient preferences, must be factored into clinical
decisions. This requires the dentist’s careful professional
judgment. Balancing individual patient needs with scientific
soundness is a necessary step in providing care.
It is understood that treatment provided by the dentist may deviate
from the parameters, in individual cases, depending on the clinical
circumstances presented by the patient. This should be documented
and explained to the patient.
The elements of care that are described in the parameters were
derived from a consensus of professional opinion. This consensus
included expert opinion on the topic and the clinical experience
of practicing dentists. In addition, the research literature,
and parameters and guidelines of other dental organizations were
reviewed.
The American Dental Association recognizes that other interested
parties, such as payers, courts, legislators and regulators may
also opt to use these parameters. The Association encourages
users to become familiar with these parameters as the profession’s
statement on the scope of clinical oral health care.
However, these parameters are not designed to address considerations
outside of the clinical arena and, therefore, may not be directly
applicable to all health policy issues.
Furthermore, these parameters are intended to describe the range
of acceptable treatment modalities. They are intended as educational
resources, not legal requirements. As such, the parameters are
not intended to establish standards of dental care, which are
rigid and inflexible, and represent what must be done; nor are
they guidelines which are less rigid, but represent what should
be done; nor are they intended to undermine or restrict the dentist’s
exercise of professional judgment. In this context, considerable
thought was given to the use of the verbs "may," "should" and "must." The
verb "may" clearly allows the practitioner to decide
whether to act.
The verb "should" indicates a degree of preference and
differs in meaning from "must" or "shall" (which
require the practitioner to act).
Throughout the parameter document, "dentist" refers
to the patient’s attending dentist. Additionally, elements
of the parameters concerned with patient consent refer to the
patient’s parent, guardian or other responsible party,
when the patient is a minor or is incompetent.
The Association intends to continually develop, revise and maintain
parameters, in order to include all dental conditions and to
accommodate advances in dental technology and science.
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Parameters
Adopted 1995, Revised 1997
The key element in the design of this set of parameters for patients
with orofacial aesthetic concerns, not related to oral disease,
is the professional judgment of the attending dentist, for a
specific patient, at a specific time.
The patient’s chief complaint, concerns and expectations
should be considered by the dentist.
Following oral evaluation (see limited, comprehensive, periodic,
detailed and extensive evaluation parameters) and consideration
of the patient’s needs, the dentist should provide the
patient with information about orofacial aesthetics prior to
obtaining consent for treatment.
The dental and medical histories should be considered by the dentist
to identify medications and predisposing conditions that may
affect the prognosis, progression and management of patients
with orofacial aesthetic concerns.
Factors affecting the patient’s speech, function and orofacial
aesthetics should be considered by the dentist in developing
a treatment plan.
In developing a treatment plan, the dentist should consider that
the etiology of orofacial aesthetic concerns may be hereditary
and/or multifactorial, characterized by craniofacial, musculoskeletal,
stomatognathic and/or dental interrelationships that are dynamic
throughout life.
The behavioral, psychological, anatomical, developmental and physiological
needs and limitations of the patient should be considered by
the dentist in developing the treatment plan.
Restorative implications, pulpal/endodontic status, tooth position
and periodontal status and prognosis should be considered in
developing a treatment plan.
The dentist may recommend that the patient return for further
evaluation. The frequency and type of evaluation(s) should be
determined by the dentist.
When the dentist considers it necessary, (an)other health care
professional(s) should be consulted to acquire additional information.
The dentist may counsel the patient concerning the potential effects
of the patient’s health condition, medication use and behaviors
on his or her oral health.
Medications should be prescribed, modified and/or administered
for dental patients whose known conditions
would affect or be affected by dental treatment provided without
the medication
or its modification. The dentist should
consult with the prescribing health care professional(s) before
modifying medications being
taken by the patient for known conditions.
(See: ADA
Statement on Antibiotic Prophylaxis, Prevention
of Bacterial Endocarditis: A Statement
for the Dental Profession (PDF), and A-Z Topic: Antibiotic Prophylaxis.)
Any treatment performed should be with the concurrence of the
patient and the dentist. If the patient insists upon treatment
not considered by the dentist to be beneficial for the patient,
the dentist may decline to provide treatment. If the patient
insists upon treatment considered by the dentist to be harmful
to the patient, the dentist should decline to provide treatment.
Following evaluation, treatment priority should be given to the
management of pain, infection, traumatic injuries or other emergency
conditions.
The dentist should recommend monitoring or treatment; present
treatment options, if any; and discuss the probable benefits,
limitations and risks associated with treatment.
The dentist should refer the patient to (an)other health professional(s)
when the dentist determines that it is in the best interest of
the patient.
Relevant and appropriate information about the patient and any
necessary coordinated treatment should be communicated and coordinated
between the referring dentist and the health professional(s)
accepting the referral.
The dentist may take this opportunity to emphasize the prevention
and early detection of oral diseases through patient education
in preventive oral health practices, which may include oral hygiene
instructions.
Soft and hard tissue characteristics and morphology, ridge relationships,
occlusion and occlusal forces, and parafunctional and behavioral
habits should be considered by the dentist.
The dentist should consider the characteristics and requirements
of each patient in selecting material(s) and treatment(s).
The dentist should consider the compatibility of the selected
treatment with the surrounding oral tissues and should provide
an environment accessible for maintenance.
The patient should be informed that the success of the treatment
is often dependent upon patient compliance with the prescribed
treatment and recommendations for behavioral modifications. Lack
of compliance should be recorded.
The effects of the selected treatment on the pulpal tissue should
be considered by the dentist.
The dentist should attempt to manage the patient’s pain,
anxiety and behavior during treatment
to facilitate safety, efficiency and
patient cooperation. (See: ADA Policy Statement: The Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists and Guidelines for the Use of Sedation and General Anesthesia by Dentists.)
Pulpal/endodontic therapy and/or root resection may be performed
by the dentist.
Local etiologic factors should be removed.
Counseling and/or therapy for parafunctional behaviors and/or
habits which can contribute to the patient’s orofacial
aesthetic concerns may be performed to facilitate treatment.
Occlusal analysis, adjustments, guards and/or splinting may be
used by the dentist to facilitate treatment.
The dentist may alter tooth morphology and/or position by modifying
occluding, articulating, adjacent, or approximating teeth or
the surfaces or by placing restorations.
The dentist may alter the shade/color of teeth. (See: ADA
Statement on the Safety of Home-Use Tooth
Whitening Products.)
Teeth may be removed by the dentist. When appropriate, the patient
should be informed of the necessity to replace any removed teeth.
Fixed, removable, and implant-supported restorations (prostheses)
may be placed, repaired, modified or replaced, as determined
by the dentist.
When a restoration (prosthesis) is used, the dentist should communicate
by prescription the necessary information for fabrication of
the restoration (prosthesis) to the dental laboratory technician.
Although the fabrication may be delegated, the dentist is responsible
for the accuracy of the restoration (prosthesis).
Chemotherapeutic agents may be used by the dentist to facilitate
treatment.
Resective, regenerative and augmentative surgical procedures to
alter soft and hard tissue morphology may be performed by the
dentist.
Transitional or provisional restorations (prostheses) may be utilized
by the dentist to facilitate treatment.
The dentist should inform the patient that he or she should participate
in a prescribed program of continuing care to allow the dentist
to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment provided and the
status of the patient’s orofacial aesthetic concerns
Documentation of treatment provided, counseling and recommended
preventive measures, as well as consultations with and referrals
to other health care professionals, should be included in the
patient’s dental record.
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