Dental iatrogenesis caused by surgical or invasive procedures attended in a dental specialty center in Portoviejo, Ecuador

Abstract

Introduction: in dentistry, an increase in iatrogenic events in patients' health care is reported, however, many are ignored or are documented from a legal approach and not from ethics. Objective: to describe cases of iatrogenesis caused by surgical or invasive procedures, in previous dental care, treated in a dental specialty center in Portoviejo, Ecuador, in the period January 2020 - December 2023.Method: an observational, descriptive and retrospective study was carried out. Variables are described such as age and sex of the patients, diagnosis of iatrogenesis, professional and field where it occurred, and communication of the iatrogenic event.Results: in the analyzed period, 61 patients with iatrogenesis due to surgical or invasive procedures were treated. 59,0 % belonged to the female sex, and 37,7 % belonged to the 18- to 29-year-old group, followed by the 39- to 49-year-old group, 24,5 %. 68,8 % were referred by the dentist responsible for the iatrogenic event, and 60,6 % were informed about the iatrogenic event. The majority of iatrogenic cases were caused by general practice dentists, 95,1 %, in the field of oral surgery, 75,5 %.Conclusions: communication of the iatrogenic event to the patient, and among the professionals involved in the case, is essential for its correct clinical and ethical management. A culture must be developed that favors feedback to learn from mistakes, and build interdisciplinary thinking, interconsultation and teamwork, based on patient safety