A Scoping Review of Patient Safety Checklists in Dentistry: Current Evidence and Future Directions

Objectives: To examine and evaluate current scientific evidence on the use of checklists to improve patient safety in dentistry
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature query using Medline and Embase structured search terminology for studies that use, or describe the development of patient safety checklists relating to dental care. All study designs were included (narratives, descriptive, observational, and experimental methodologies) for citations published through March 2023.
Results: The initial search identified 354 articles. After duplicate removal, initial evaluation, and abstract screening, 42 papers remained for data extraction and analysis. In dentistry, checklists were used in oral surgery to increase dental implant success rates, to prevent wrong tooth extractions, and to guide oral mucosal biopsies (n=15), in general practice to improve team communication and decision-making for dental prosthetic reconstructions (n=4), to assess temporomandibular disorders (n=2), in oral radiography to improve the quality of radiographic images and limit unnecessary exposure to radiation (n=2), and in endodontics to standardize endodontic clinical practices (n=1). The majority of the included studies described checklist development and implementation (n=17), followed by narratives and opinion papers (n=15) and literature reviews (n=3). Only 7 studies assessed the effectiveness of checklists on improving patient safety outcomes. Of the effectiveness studies, all demonstrate that checklists reduce dental adverse events and improve patients’ and dentists’ satisfaction.
Conclusions: The literature supporting the use of safety checklists in dentistry is focused on development and implementation primarily in oral surgery. Thus, little is known about checklist effectiveness in reducing the occurrence of adverse events across dental disciplines and practices. As checklists are strongly supported by patient safety organizations, effectiveness studies should be implemented in dental settings to help improve patient safety.