Can a dentist alter records without being caught?

[luisa778]

Hi, I apologise if this question is in the wrong category. I believe my dentist has been negligent. My question is would it be possible for him to alter my records to cover his negligence and are dentists able to do that? Thank you.

I imagine there will be an audit trail so that, if records are altered, an audit trail will show when, by who and what it was altered from. That’s how it is with our GP practice, I can’t imagine the dentist being any different but I hope someone comes along soon who can reassure you. I imagine if you put an official complaint in the records will be looked at. It would be foolish of a dentist to risk their livelihood by doing such a thing.

www.mddus.com/resources/resource-library/risk-alerts/2017/october/altering-patient-notes

www.gdc-uk.org/raising-concerns/raising-concerns-about-dental-treatment/can-gdc-help-with-your-concern

It depends if they are paper or computer I guess, technically you can but if it's computer notes it will usually say edited by such and such at x time

They obviously can't make up things such as xrays

Why do you think they have been negligent?

Paper notes would be fairly obvious if altered or added too!
Computer notes from my experience are left open for 24 hours to edit, then closed and saved.
Majority of practices now use computer notes!

No. Like PP there would be an trail. They can add to notes. But not delete or take away from them. And it is very very obvious if they do. If you are concerned. Ask another dentist at the same practice to have a look over your notes with you and explain them. That is not unusual or unexpected.