COM Patient Safety & Risk Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A child patient becomes visibly distressed and refuses to open their mouth during therapy. Which risk management approach is most appropriate?
- Physically assist the child to complete the exercise
- Discontinue the exercise, acknowledge the child's feelings, and modify the approach (Correct answer)
- Document non-compliance and end the session immediately
- Ask the parent to hold the child's head in position
Correct answer: Discontinue the exercise, acknowledge the child's feelings, and modify the approach
Forcing compliance creates safety and ethical risks; a patient-centered, adaptive approach maintains trust and prevents harm.
Question 2: What is the primary reason orofacial myologists should screen for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders before initiating therapy?
- To bill additional codes for the evaluation
- To avoid exercises that could exacerbate joint pain or dysfunction (Correct answer)
- To refer all TMJ patients to orthodontists before treating
- TMJ disorders do not affect orofacial myology treatment
Correct answer: To avoid exercises that could exacerbate joint pain or dysfunction
Undiagnosed or poorly managed TMJ disorders can be aggravated by certain orofacial exercises, increasing the risk of patient harm.
Question 3: Which scenario represents a breach of patient confidentiality under HIPAA?
- Discussing a patient case with the referring dentist
- Sharing a patient's progress photos on social media without consent (Correct answer)
- Sending treatment records to an insurance company with signed authorization
- Leaving a phone message confirming an appointment
Correct answer: Sharing a patient's progress photos on social media without consent
Posting identifiable patient information on social media without explicit written authorization violates HIPAA privacy rules.
Question 4: An adult patient with a known seizure disorder is in your clinic. Which preparedness measure is most important?
- Have antiepileptic medication on hand
- Know the patient's seizure history, current medications, and emergency contacts before each visit (Correct answer)
- Require the patient to be accompanied by a nurse at all times
- Avoid all intraoral exercises for seizure patients
Correct answer: Know the patient's seizure history, current medications, and emergency contacts before each visit
Knowing the patient's seizure profile and emergency contacts allows the clinician to respond appropriately if a seizure occurs.
Question 5: A new patient's health history form reveals they are taking warfarin (blood thinner). Which consideration is most relevant to orofacial myology?
- Warfarin has no implications for myofunctional therapy
- Avoid any exercises or instruments that could cause oral bleeding or tissue trauma (Correct answer)
- Request the patient stop warfarin before therapy begins
- Only treat the patient in a hospital setting
Correct answer: Avoid any exercises or instruments that could cause oral bleeding or tissue trauma
Anticoagulant therapy increases bleeding risk, so clinicians must avoid intraoral procedures that could cause tissue trauma.
Question 6: What is the role of an orofacial myologist when a patient reports new jaw pain that developed during their therapy program?
- Continue therapy and reassess in four weeks
- Pause relevant exercises, document the complaint, and refer to an appropriate provider (Correct answer)
- Increase the frequency of jaw exercises to strengthen the area
- Advise the patient to use over-the-counter pain relievers
Correct answer: Pause relevant exercises, document the complaint, and refer to an appropriate provider
New pain is a clinical red flag that requires cessation of potentially causative exercises and professional evaluation.
Question 7: Which element is essential in a valid informed consent form for orofacial myology therapy?
- A guarantee of treatment outcomes
- An explanation of risks, benefits, and alternatives to the proposed therapy (Correct answer)
- The clinician's personal treatment philosophy
- An agreement that the patient will not seek a second opinion
Correct answer: An explanation of risks, benefits, and alternatives to the proposed therapy
Valid informed consent requires disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives so patients can make autonomous decisions.
COM Patient Safety & Risk Management 3
A child patient becomes visibly distressed and refuses to open their mouth during therapy.
Which risk management approach is most appropriate?