Dental Malpractice Insurance Coverage for Healthcare Professionals
Increasing exposures in today’s practice environment are leaving dental professionals vulnerable to financial and emotional stress. The Doctors Company offers one of the most comprehensive and affordable malpractice insurance policies available on the market.
Designed to meet the unique needs of the dental industry, this coverage solution can protect your practice, employees, assets, and reputation in the event of a malpractice allegation.
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(800) 421-2368.
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Get started without an NPI number
To receive a premium estimate, please enter your NPI number and date of birth. Your information provided to CAQH for credentialing will automatically populate the request form. CAQH Provider Data Portal is the largest database of self-reported provider data in the U.S., with over 100,000 Dentists in their credentials database.
Coverage Features
- Coverage available for all dental specialties, including dentists, dental assistants, hygienists, oral surgeons, and orthodontists
- Claims-made and occurrence options
- Coverage for dental assistants and hygienists at no additional cost
- Nonlicensed dental healthcare providers, support staff, and volunteers covered automatically
- 30-day locum tenens coverage included
- Shared entity limits available at no additional charge
- Separate entity limits are offered for groups of two or more
- Protection against cyber liability and regulatory action
- Nonassessable
- Defense outside the limits of liability
- Trial expense reimbursement
- And we make this promise to you: We will never settle a claim without your written consent, subject to your policy terms and applicable law
Member Benefits
- Free retirement tail coverage for eligible members
- Extensive patient safety tools and resources, including free on-demand and live CE and CME credits
- Premium discounts available for part-time practitioners and those new to practice
- Additional claims-free credits
- A generous multiyear dividend program—we’ve already declared $500 million to eligible members
- The Tribute® Plan, a significant financial award paid to members for their loyalty and their dedication to superior patient care
Malpractice Insurance by Dental Specialty
No two dental specialties face the same level of risk. The procedures you perform, the complexity of your cases, and the expectations of your patients all influence your malpractice exposure. That's why it's important to choose coverage designed for the realities of your practice.
Orthodontist Malpractice Insurance
Orthodontists often work with patients over months or years, making communication and treatment planning especially important. Even when treatment goes as planned, patients may raise concerns about results, timelines, or expectations.
Orthodontist malpractice insurance helps protect against claims related to treatment decisions, patient communication, documentation, and alleged treatment errors. With the right coverage in place, you can focus on delivering quality care while protecting your practice from unexpected legal challenges.
Oral Surgeon Malpractice Insurance
Oral surgeons perform complex procedures that can carry a higher risk of complications and claims. Procedures involving extractions, implants, sedation, and anesthesia often require additional protection.
Oral surgeon malpractice insurance helps cover claims related to surgical complications, anesthesia incidents, infections, nerve injuries, and other treatment-related concerns. Specialty-specific coverage can provide peace of mind when performing high-risk procedures.
Insurance for General Dentists
General dentists provide a wide range of services, creating exposure to many different types of malpractice claims. From routine preventive care to restorative procedures, even small misunderstandings can lead to allegations of negligence.
Dentist malpractice insurance helps protect against claims involving treatment errors, missed diagnoses, patient injuries, and other professional liability concerns. Whether you own a practice or work as an associate, the right coverage can help safeguard your finances, reputation and future.
Endorsed and Sponsored Programs
These prestigious dental organizations recognize our efforts in support of dentists and endorse or sponsor The Doctors Company as their chosen medical liability insurer.
Malpractice Risks: What Dentists Need to Know
In the ever-evolving healthcare environment, risk management is more important than ever.
$118,000 is the average payout in dental malpractice cases.*
2,600 dental professionals are named as defendants in U.S. malpractice lawsuits each year.†
80% of dentists made at least one malpractice payment between 2016 and 2023.‡
Tooth Extraction Risk: Case Example
Malpractice allegations lead to $247,250 payment for damages.
A patient presented with a toothache. Finding an abscess, the dentist decided to remove the tooth in question. Everything seemed to be going well with the patient until a few days later, when he felt incredible pain in the area and uncontrollable drooling. The patient sued the dentist for malpractice as a result of the injuries as well as nerve damage and loss of taste. The suit stated the dentist negligently performed the tooth extraction and provided deficient postoperative instructions. The jury found the dentist to be at fault and awarded $247,250 to the plaintiff for medical expenses, loss of normal life, and pain and suffering.
Implantation Risk: Case Example
Jury finds standard of care not met, awards plaintiff $375,000.
A 63-year-old patient visited a dentist’s office to have a crown installed. She later discovered the crown was not properly fitted to her tooth and sued the dentist for negligent implantation. The lawsuit also alleged the dentist failed to diagnose and treat periodontal disease and other mouth issues. The jury found the crown indeed did not fit the plaintiff’s tooth and caused her great pain. They awarded her $375,000 for medical costs, loss of normal life, pain and suffering, and future pain.
How to Choose an Insurer
Choosing the right malpractice insurer is one of the most important professional decisions you’ll make.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Dentist malpractice insurance is a type of professional liability insurance that helps protect dentists against claims alleging negligence, treatment errors, misdiagnosis, or patient harm. Coverage can help pay for legal defense costs, settlements, and other covered expenses, allowing dental professionals to protect their finances and reputation. Dental malpractice insurance is critical in protecting dentists during challenging situations.
Requirements vary by state, employer, and practice setting. While some dentists may not be legally required to carry malpractice insurance, having coverage is strongly recommended. Even unfounded claims can result in costly legal expenses, making malpractice insurance an important safeguard for dental professionals.
Dentist malpractice insurance typically covers claims arising from professional services provided to patients. This may include legal defense costs, settlements, judgments, licensing board investigations, and other covered professional liability expenses. Coverage options can vary by policy and practitioner.
Yes. Different dental specialties face different risks. Orthodontist malpractice insurance may address exposures related to treatment planning and long-term patient care, while oral surgeon malpractice insurance is designed for higher-risk procedures such as extractions, implants, and anesthesia-related treatments. Specialty-specific coverage helps ensure your policy aligns with the services you provide.
The cost of insurance for dentists depends on several factors, including specialty, location, claims history, years in practice, and coverage limits. General dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons may have different premium costs based on the level of risk associated with their procedures and patient populations.
*Source: National Practitioner Data Bank Public Use File, November 2025. Five-year average 2020–2024.
†Source: Estimated based on the number of dental malpractice payments reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank 2020–2024.
‡Source: Estimated based on exposures from definitive data with unique NPI numbers present in the procedures field and paid claims from unique practitioners in the National Practitioner Data Bank.
