Informed Consent, Recordkeeping, and Patient Rights
This section covers the consent conversation, the dental record, and the patient's right to access information.
Informed consent
Nevada requires a meaningful consent discussion before treatment: diagnosis, nature of the proposed procedure, material risks, alternatives (including no treatment), and likely consequences. Consent should be documented, and for significant or surgical procedures a written form is prudent and often expected. Consent must be obtained by the treating dentist or a qualified designee under the dentist's direction; a signature alone does not cure an inadequate discussion.
Records and patient rights
Patient records must be accurate, timely, and retained. Nevada requires retention for at least five years after the last treatment, longer for minors, and records must be produced to the patient or the patient's authorized representative on request, with reasonable copying fees permitted. Records belong to the practice, but patients have a right of access. HIPAA privacy rules apply in addition to state law. Never alter a record after a complaint; make a late entry clearly dated.
Worked example
A patient asks for a copy of her chart after a disputed crown. The front desk refuses until a bill is paid. That is improper: a dentist may not withhold records to collect a fee. The practice should provide copies promptly and pursue the debt separately.
Traps
A signed form with no discussion is weak consent. Don't release records without a proper authorization, but don't refuse the patient's own access. Don't "improve" notes retrospectively; an unexplained alteration looks like concealment and supports an unprofessional-conduct charge.