> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bizaxl.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Patient Management

> How to register new dental patients, record their medical and dental history, manage allergies and alerts, and use the patient timeline to review their complete clinical record.

Every patient journey starts with a patient record. Before any appointment can be booked or any clinical record can be created, the patient must exist in the system. A well-completed patient record includes demographic details, medical history, dental history, allergy information, and an emergency contact. This information stays with the patient for life and is available to every dentist and dental nurse at every visit.

***

## Before You Start

* You need the **Healthcare Administrator** or **Healthcare Practitioner** role to register patients.
* Have the patient's full name, date of birth, mobile number, and basic medical history ready at registration.

***

## Registering a New Patient

1. Go to Healthcare workspace → Masters card → **Patient** → New

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/bizaxloptimizationsllp/images/placeholder-dental-patient-new.png" alt="New Patient registration form showing fields for name, date of birth, gender, mobile number, blood group, and medical history section" />
</Frame>

2. Fill in the patient's details:

| Field            | What to Enter                                                                    |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| First Name       | Patient's first name                                                             |
| Last Name        | Patient's surname                                                                |
| Sex              | Male / Female / Other                                                            |
| Date of Birth    | Used to calculate age and flag paediatric patients                               |
| Status           | Active                                                                           |
| Blood Group      | Record if known - relevant for surgical cases                                    |
| Mobile           | Mobile number used for appointment confirmation and reminder SMS                 |
| Email            | Used for portal access and emailed reports                                       |
| Address          | Home address                                                                     |
| Occupation       | Useful for risk assessment (e.g., patients exposed to acids or grinding hazards) |
| Referring Doctor | If the patient was referred by a GP or specialist                                |

3. In the **Patient Demographics** or relevant section, complete the emergency contact:

| Field                             | What to Enter                                     |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Guardian / Emergency Contact Name | Name of next of kin or emergency contact          |
| Relation                          | Relationship to patient (spouse, parent, sibling) |
| Emergency Contact Mobile          | Mobile number for emergencies                     |

4. Save the record.

***

## Completing the Medical History

The medical history section is critical for safe dental treatment. Complete this at registration and review it at every visit.

**Medical Conditions to Ask About:**

| Condition                                  | Dental Relevance                                                                                     |
| ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Diabetes                                   | Affects healing, risk of infection, blood glucose check before oral surgery                          |
| Heart disease / Heart valve conditions     | May require antibiotic prophylaxis before invasive procedures                                        |
| Hypertension                               | Check blood pressure before procedure, some local anaesthetics with vasoconstrictors may be relevant |
| Bleeding disorders / Anticoagulant therapy | Risk of prolonged bleeding after extractions; may need INR check before surgery                      |
| Asthma / Respiratory conditions            | Aspirin and NSAIDs should be used with caution                                                       |
| Epilepsy                                   | May affect treatment positioning; relevant for sedation cases                                        |
| Pregnancy                                  | X-rays and medications require special consideration                                                 |
| Bisphosphonate therapy                     | Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) risk before extraction                           |
| Immunosuppression / Steroid therapy        | Increased infection risk, impaired healing                                                           |
| Latex allergy                              | Affects gloves and rubber dam used in dental procedures                                              |
| Penicillin allergy                         | Affects choice of antibiotic prescription                                                            |
| Ibuprofen / NSAID allergy                  | Affects post-procedure pain management                                                               |

Use the **Allergies and Drug Reactions** section to record:

* Allergen (e.g., Penicillin, Latex, Ibuprofen)
* Type of reaction (anaphylaxis, rash, gastrointestinal upset)
* Severity

Allergy alerts are visible to the dentist when they open the patient record.

**Medications to Record:**

Ask the patient for their full medication list. Key medications to note:

* Warfarin, Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, Clopidogrel (bleeding risk)
* Bisphosphonates (Alendronate, Zoledronic Acid) (MRONJ risk)
* Aspirin (bleeding risk)
* Steroids (healing risk)
* Blood pressure medications
* Any medications that cause dry mouth (xerostomia) as a side effect

***

## Recording the Dental History

In the Patient Encounter at the first visit, the dentist records the dental history. Ask about:

* Last dental visit (when and where)
* Previous dental treatment (fillings, extractions, root canal, braces, dentures)
* Previous dental trauma or injuries
* History of dental anxiety or phobia
* Previous problems with local anaesthesia (needing more than usual, failed blocks)
* Family history of dental problems (periodontal disease has a hereditary component)
* Dietary habits (frequency of sugar intake, fizzy drinks, acidic foods)
* Oral hygiene habits (brushing frequency, flossing, mouthwash)
* Grinding or clenching (bruxism)
* Smoking or tobacco use
* Alcohol consumption

***

## Field Guide: Patient Record

| Field                        | Description                                                                    |
| ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Patient ID                   | Auto-generated unique identifier                                               |
| First Name / Last Name       | Full patient name                                                              |
| Sex                          | Gender                                                                         |
| Date of Birth / Age          | Date of birth (age calculated automatically)                                   |
| Status                       | Active or Inactive                                                             |
| Blood Group                  | Blood group if known                                                           |
| Mobile                       | Primary contact number for SMS notifications                                   |
| Email                        | Email for portal access and reports                                            |
| Invite User                  | Creates a portal account for the patient                                       |
| Customer                     | Auto-created linked customer record for billing                                |
| Allergies and Drug Reactions | List of known allergies with allergen, type, and severity                      |
| Medical History              | Medical conditions affecting dental treatment                                  |
| Risk Factors                 | Identified dental risk factors (high sugar diet, smoking, dry mouth, grinding) |
| Referring Doctor             | Referring practitioner if applicable                                           |

***

## Inviting a Patient to the Portal

Patients can access their own appointments, prescriptions, and diagnostic reports (X-ray reports) through the Bizaxl patient portal.

1. Open the Patient record
2. Enter the patient's email address
3. Click **Invite User**
4. The patient receives an email with portal login instructions

Once the patient has portal access, they can:

* View and cancel upcoming appointments
* Download prescriptions
* View diagnostic reports (OPG findings, IOPA reports)
* Update their personal details

***

## Viewing a Patient's History

The patient history timeline is your most powerful tool for reviewing a patient's full dental journey.

1. Go to Healthcare workspace → Records and History card → **Patient History**
2. Enter the patient's name
3. The timeline shows every record linked to this patient: appointments, encounters, procedures, X-ray reports, prescriptions, lab tests

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/bizaxloptimizationsllp/images/placeholder-dental-patient-history.png" alt="Patient History timeline for a dental patient showing a sequence of records: Patient Appointment, Patient Encounter with diagnosis, Clinical Procedure (filling), Diagnostic Report (OPG), and Prescription" />
</Frame>

**Tip:** Before starting an examination, always open the patient history to review what was done at the last visit, what treatment plan items are pending, and whether any lab results are awaited.

***

## Best Practices

* Complete the allergy section at registration and review it at every visit - a missed penicillin allergy can lead to a life-threatening antibiotic prescription error
* Record the bisphosphonate status for every patient over 50 - failure to identify bisphosphonate use before extraction is a serious clinical risk
* Update the medical history at every visit, not just at registration - patients' medical circumstances change, and a medication prescribed since the last visit may affect today's planned procedure
* For paediatric patients, record the parent or guardian's contact details as the primary contact, and note the child's date of birth carefully (treatment decisions differ significantly between a 6-year-old and a 16-year-old)
* Treat blood pressure as a mandatory vital sign before any extraction or surgical procedure in patients over 40 or with known hypertension

***

## Related Features

* [Appointments](/health-wellness/dental-clinic/appointments): Every appointment is linked to a registered patient
* [Dental Examination](/health-wellness/dental-clinic/dental-examination): The clinical record created at each visit
* [Billing and Finance](/health-wellness/dental-clinic/billing-finance): The patient's customer record is created automatically on registration
* [Oral Surgery](/health-wellness/dental-clinic/oral-surgery): Medical history is critical before any surgical procedure