As soon as one enters a dental clinic the first thing the staff asks you to do is filling out your information. In a dental record, a few examples of the types of information documented could include:

1.      General details(i.e. Name, Age, Contact no., Address)

2.      Any current or past dental history

3.      Medical History(i.e. diabetes, hypertension, asthma, history of current medications)

4.      Family medical history

5.      Informed Consent

6.      Clinical information

The law requires medical professionals to keep and maintain thorough records of patient for duration of time. The preliminary reason to maintain these records is to provide quality care and follow up visits. All clinics maintain different active and inactive records of their patients. History of few medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension which are much more prevalent nowadays need to be informed as it changes the approach towards your dental treatment. 


Not many years ago, a patient record may have consisted of paper forms held together in a paper filing chart with written notes, some radiographic films, and maybe a few poured casts were cross referenced to a storage area of the lab. The record has transformed to an electronic document including digital images and photographs while all under the protection of security standards and privacy rules.