Strategies to Avoid Dental Malpractice Claims

Dental care is an essential healthcare service. As a dentist, you play an important role in your patients’ well-being. However, the responsibility of patient care comes with the risk of malpractice claims.

Malpractice claims can be financially draining and damaging to your professional reputation. That’s why it’s helpful to know the risks and identify ways to reduce them in your practice. In this article, we will share tips to help reduce the likelihood of malpractice claims in dental care and discuss the importance of malpractice insurance for dentists.

Understanding dental malpractice claims

Dental malpractice occurs when a dentist fails to provide treatment in conformity with the standard of care, thereby making it negligent, resulting in harm to a patient. This can include incorrect or missed diagnoses, improper treatment, or improper choice of or planning for a procedure. To avoid these situations, it’s vital to have a comprehensive claim prevention plan in place.

Acquiring dental malpractice insurance is a crucial aspect of your claim prevention strategy. It provides financial protection against claims, covering legal fees, settlements, and damages awarded after a trial. Choosing the best dental malpractice insurance requires thorough research of available coverage options.

MedPro Group offers tailored dental malpractice insurance, ensuring that you have the protection you need to practice with peace of mind.

Key strategies for preventing malpractice claims

In addition to getting a malpractice insurance policy, what can you do to help prevent malpractice claims? Here are some useful strategies to consider:

Keep detailed patient records

• Maintaining detailed and accurate patient records is essential. This includes documenting patient histories, examinations, treatments, and any communication. Keeping thorough records is important for providing consistent care and can be crucial in a legal dispute. Dental records should never be altered. Thorough, complete, and contemporaneous documentation is a key factor in maintaining professional credibility.

Stay informed and educated

• Continuing education allows you to stay up to date with the latest dental techniques and standards of care. Going to workshops and classes can help you take better care of your patients and reduce the possibility of mistakes.

Manage your practice effectively

• To minimize errors in your practice, it’s a good idea to implement consistent protocols for scheduling appointments, patient communication (e.g. reminders and follow-ups), and more. Make sure your office has a policy in place to follow up with patients who have canceled appointments to ensure they are promptly rescheduled. This is especially important for patients who you may be monitoring for developing dental issues. Streamlining administrative tasks can improve efficiency and overall patient satisfaction.

Communicate clearly with patients

• It’s important to talk openly with patients about their treatment. Obtain informed consent for all treatments, ensuring patients understand what to expect, including possible risks, from the proposed treatment. Clear communication can help prevent misunderstandings that could lead to malpractice claims.

Practice within your scope

• As a dentist, it’s important to only practice within the scope of your expertise and licensure. Avoid offering treatments or advice outside of your professional capacity, as this can increase your malpractice risk. Similarly, non-professional office staff should never be permitted to provide any dental or medical advice to patients. If you feel as though the patient’s condition or treatment would be better handled by a specialist, refer the patient out. Do not let a patient’s finances dictate or constrain the treatment steps you believe are necessary to effectively treat the patient within the standard of care.

Follow the standard of care

• Following standard treatment protocols can minimize the chance of mistakes and minimize your malpractice risks.

Prioritize patient safety

• Always prioritize patient safety during treatments. Be mindful of techniques that pose risks, especially for patients with pre-existing conditions or complex medical histories. If you’re uncertain about a particular treatment, seek a second opinion or refer the patient to a dental specialist.

How to handle a dental malpractice claim

In the unfortunate event of a malpractice claim, it’s important to handle it promptly and professionally. Here are some initial steps to consider:

Contact your insurance provider

Immediately notify your dental malpractice insurance provider if you receive a claim or have reason to believe a claim is imminent. Avoid discussing the claim with anyone before contacting your insurance carrier. They will help guide you through the process and provide legal representation if necessary.

Do not alter patient records

A clinical note should be completed as contemporaneously as possible with treatment. If you notice an error in your original note or omitted information, do not alter the original note. Rather, make an addendum and reference the date of the original note and the date of treatment, and then explain your addition. Altering records can be seen as an attempt to cover up the facts and can severely harm your ability to resolve a claim.

Cooperate with your claims consultant

Work closely with your malpractice insurance carrier’s claims team. Provide them with all the necessary documentation and information to address the claim.

Check out this article for more information on what to expect from a malpractice claim.

Malpractice insurance considerations

Facing malpractice claims in dental practice can be daunting, but acquiring the best malpractice coverage can help you manage risk. By being proactive, you can keep your patients safe and practice with confidence.

When purchasing dental malpractice insurance, keep the following in mind:

Coverage limits

• Make sure your policy provides adequate coverage to protect your assets and practice in the event of a claim.

Customizable policies

• The coverage you need is unique to your practice and specialty. That’s why MedPro offers policies tailored to meet the specific needs of dentists.

Customer service and support

• Excellent customer support goes a long way. Your carrier should guide you through the process of handling claims and answer any questions you may have. MedPro Group offers hands-on, reliable service so dentists can feel confident in their coverage.

Carrier strength

• Your malpractice insurance carrier should have the financial strength and expertise to defend you from claims. MedPro Group is a carrier with an A++ financial rating (AM Best) and has a dental trial win rate of 95%.

Get the right coverage from MedPro Group

MedPro Group, the nation’s leading malpractice insurance carrier, offers coverage options tailored to the unique needs of dentists. Over 45,000 dentists nationwide choose MedPro. With the industry’s best claims team and a group of risk consultants averaging 30 years of experience, MedPro Group is prepared to help dentists protect their practice and their future.

Secure your peace of mind today with a free quote.

For latest AM Best rating, access ambest.com.

All data is derived from MedPro Group records and calculations; claims data range is 2013-2022 unless otherwise indicated. MedPro Group is the marketing name used to refer to the insurance operations of The Medical Protective Company, Princeton Insurance Company, PLICO, Inc. and MedPro RRG Risk Retention Group. All insurance products are administered by MedPro Group and underwritten by these and other Berkshire Hathaway affiliates, including National Fire & Marine Insurance Company. Product availability is based upon business and/or regulatory approval and may differ among companies.

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