This book is an introduction to quality improvement methods for dentists and other oral health professionals. It includes audit, which will be familiar to many dental professionals, and sets it in the wider context of quality improvement theory and practice. The book provides sufficient information to allow dental practices to undertake clinical audit and quality improvement using current best practice.

The World Dental Federation has called for greater attention to quality in dentistry and has argued for the use of quality improvement methods. In the United Kingdom, the health services in Wales and Scotland have begun to produce materials to support dental quality improvement work. The Care Quality Commission in England has emphasised the requirement for audit in dental care. Dental practices in Scotland are now required to undertake QI projects. In the USA, the American Dental Association now encourages audit and QI training guidance has been issued by the California Department of Public Health Office of Oral Health.

This book provides dental teams with the information they need to meet these local, national and international requirements. It describes the components of quality and patient safety and sets dental quality improvement in the context of wider literature. Approaches to audit and quality improvement are discussed, with use of dental examples. It explains practical approaches that can be applied by any dental team. The methods described will support teams to improve the quality of their services and to meet the needs of their patients.