Oral Health | Clinical and Risk Asessment | Principles of good treatment planning

Principles of good treatment planning
Session overview
Description
Treatment planning is built on the foundation of history, examination, special tests and diagnosis. Only a thorough approach to these can lead to a successful treatment plan.

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• identify the risks and benefits of dental intervention
• describe the concept of the restorative staircase
• list strategies to balance the risks and benefits for a patient
• classify gathered data using a problem list approach
• structure a phased treatment plan

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should have completed sessions on:

• Special tests and baseline tecords
• Translating information into a diagnosis

In addition, you should also have a basic knowledge and experience of:

• taking a history
• patient examination
• special tests
• dental diseases
• diagnosis
• dental interventions

Treatment planning is built on the foundation of:

• history
• examination
• special tests
• diagnosis

There are benefits to operative dental treatment, but there are also risks. For example, the preparation for conventional bridgework causes destruction of tooth tissue and potential damage to the dental pulp. Balancing the risks and benefits for an individual is one of the core concepts in dental treatment planning.

History, examination, special tests and diagnosis may generate a complex set of information. One way of sorting this information into a logical plan that meets the needs of the patient is the 'problem list approach'.

The aim is to provide long-term dental restorations in a healthy mouth with no active disease. To achieve this, a phased approach to treatment planning is required. Preventive strategies should be the priority in the stabilisation phase of treatment. Definitive treatment should not be provided until stabilisation of active disease has been demonstrably achieved.