ON CALL GROUP GUIDELINES

Schedule

• On call from Friday 8 am to Monday 8 am
• Need to be able to get to the office within1 hour of call
• Other DDS who work for you can be on call but must be pediatric dentist
• Phone message should give clear instructions how to reach you
  • Note that some offices use an answering service
• If need to switch a weekend, the person who instigated the switch needs to inform the whole group

Payment

• Completely through your own office 
• Some offices charge an after hours feeWhen to go in vs. manage over phone

When to go in vs. manage over phone

Rule of thumb: "If the patient is relatively comfortable and waiting doesn't adversely affect the outcome can it wait till Monday?'

• photos/facetime can help dx
• For sure go in for
  • Avulsion permanent
  • Severe Trauma
• Gray area:
  • Facial swelling
    • Can we provide antibiotics without ever seeing the swollen patient?
  • Primary teeth luxations
  • Painful cavity
• It can usually wait:
  • Overretained primary tooth
  • Mild Subluxation, no displacement
  • Local abscess

Other considerations

• Typically fill out all paperwork and child becomes an official patient of yours albeit briefly
• Even if family wants to switch to you, need to refer back to home office

ORTHO

• Calls for braces are not covered by the call group
• If have orthodontist in your office, he/she should be on call
• What about crossbite appliances such as RPE placed by the pediatric dentist?

Send report to home dentist

• Fax or email Monday morning
  • Include photos/xrays
• SOAP notes (see example at end) but can use other formats too