A non-English-speaking patient (Laotian/Hmong) comes with her daughter who speaks English. She says her mother has tooth pain and believes an evil spirit is causing it. What do you do?

Correct answer: A. Use a certified interpreter (specifically Hmong language)

• A. Correct. Best practice (and often a legal/regulatory requirement) is to use a certified medical/dental interpreter fluent in the patient's specific language to ensure accurate informed consent and communication, rather than relying on an untrained family member.
• B. While convenient, using a family member (especially a minor or someone without certified medical interpreting training) risks miscommunication, omitted details, and compromised informed consent.
• C. Gestures alone are inadequate for obtaining proper informed consent and understanding clinical history.
• D. Referring the patient elsewhere does not fulfill the dentist's obligation to provide appropriate language access services.