If you ask most dentists about dental notes, the reaction is rarely enthusiastic. Notes are time-consuming, repetitive, and often feel like they get in the way of what really matters: patient care.
But from a dento-legal perspective, notes are the single most important protection a dentist has. When a complaint or claim arises, it’s the written record, not memory, that determines whether a dentist can defend their actions.
Interestingly, dento-legal advisors Julie-Ann and Shivani from Densura argue that new graduates may actually be better placed than their senior colleagues when it comes to record keeping.
The Shift in Undergraduate Training
In past decades, dental students weren’t given the same emphasis on record keeping that today’s graduates receive.
Julie-Ann reflected on this generational shift:
“New graduates come out with great knowledge about record keeping that we didn’t have when I came out. I look back at my early records and think, oh my goodness.”
Today, undergraduates are trained from day one to document meticulously. In clinic, every patient interaction is written up in detail, with supervisors scrutinising whether notes meet expected standards. That early exposure sets a high bar.
However, there’s a catch: undergraduate clinics don’t mirror real practice. Sessions often finish early to allow students time to complete records.
As Julie-Ann explained:
“On an undergraduate clinic we’ll end a session at a particular time so we leave room for record keeping. Realistically, that’s not going to work in practice.”
So while new dentists know how to write excellent notes, the reality of a packed appointment book will test whether they can maintain that standard under pressure.
Digital Natives vs. Paper Generations
Another advantage for new dentists is the technology they grow up with. Many older dentists transitioned from handwritten notes to digital systems mid-career, and some still carry habits from paper-based records.
By contrast, new graduates step straight into practice management software and digital workflows. They’re more comfortable typing as they work, toggling between tabs, or using structured digital templates.
AI is also entering record-keeping at exactly the right time for this new generation. Tools like Kiroku are designed to capture conversations, prompt for missing details, and integrate with digital systems.
Julie-Ann highlighted how this could benefit those still building their workflow:
“For new graduates, dropdown prompts could be really, really helpful, because their workflow isn’t yet embedded as second nature. For more experienced dentists, it’s autopilot, but new grads need that structure.”
That means AI can help close the gap between undergraduate clinic and real practice, easing the transition.
Avoiding the Mistakes of the Past
One of the most common causes of dental claims is poor perio records. For example, failing to document BPEs, radiographic findings, or detailed oral hygiene advice. Julie-Ann advised on the changes in record-keeping over time:
“Many historical perio notes from the nineties, if looked at now, wouldn’t meet the standard. Claims often pull records from many years back, across different practices. If the records aren’t there, they’re indefensible.”
New graduates, however, start with an awareness of these standards, and with digital systems that make recording them easier. They don’t have decades of “thin” notes to look back on in case of a claim.
If they maintain the habits they’ve built at university, they can avoid the liability of incomplete historic notes entirely.
The Role of AI and Templates
Both Julie-Ann and Shivani raised the issue of templated notes. Templates are essential for speed, but risky if dentists fail to personalise them. Shivani explained:
“We always notice dentists say, ‘we told them they’ve got periodontal disease, we gave them oral hygiene instructions,’ but it’s all templated. The real detail of what was actually discussed isn’t recorded.”
This is where AI may offer an advantage. Unlike static templates, tools like Kiroku capture nuance from the real patient conversation. Hannah, a practicing dentist and founder of Kiroku, gave an example:
“When I use Co-Pilot, it makes me realise how much conversation I have with the patient where I’ve excluded something, but not written it down. For example, a patient points out a lesion and I reassure them it’s fine. Looking back, Co-Pilot has captured that. It’s detail I just wouldn’t have had time to record otherwise.”
For new graduates, this means their notes can reflect what was actually said, not just what a template prompted them to click.
A Generation Growing With AI
There’s also a future-facing advantage. New graduates will be the first generation of dentists whose entire careers run alongside AI.
As Shivani pointed out:
“We don’t have any experience yet of AI-generated notes used for a claim. It’ll be very interesting to see what that gives us.”
That means this generation may set the benchmark for how AI notes are perceived legally. If they build good habits of reviewing and editing AI-supported notes from the start, they could create records that are both more detailed and more defensible than ever before.
Getting It Right From Day 1
Older dentists may have more clinical experience, but when it comes to record keeping, new graduates have a unique advantage:
- They’re trained from day one to write detailed, compliant notes.
- They’re digital natives, comfortable with software and structured workflows.
- They don’t carry decades of poor historic notes that could resurface in a claim.
- They’re growing with AI, learning to use it responsibly from the start.
As Julie-Ann summed it up:
“New graduates have the potential to get it right from day one. They’ve got a great advantage that we didn’t have.”
For today’s new dentists, record keeping shouldn’t be seen as a burden. It’s an opportunity to build a foundation of defensible, detailed, and patient-centred notes that will support them throughout their entire career.
Kiroku and Densura - There for Young Dentists
That’s why Kiroku offers new dental graduates free access to their AI-powered note platform for their first year in training. More information and offers for new graduates including international graduates can be found on our dedicated page.
Plus, thanks to our partnership with Densura, you can get up to 10% off your Medical Malpractice Premium when you use Kiroku.
The offer starts at 5% off when you renew or sign up for cover with Densura, and increases by 1% every year up to a maximum of 10% with continued usage of Kiroku. Find out more or start your quote on the Densura website.
