Access Three Complimentary Analyses to Help Reduce Patient Harm and Malpractice Exposure
Each month in 2026, our Malpractice Risk Review will focus on a different medical specialty, providing targeted insights from malpractice claims to support patient safety and risk management efforts.
Understanding malpractice risk in dentistry requires examining both how patient harm occurs and why negligence allegations arise. This Malpractice Risk Review brings together three in-depth analyses:
- Contributing factors to patient harm: Identifies common drivers of dentistry claims, which are primarily driven by technical issues, including technical performance issues associated with known complications, such as retained foreign bodies.
- Negligence allegations: Analyzes negligence allegations in dentistry to help dentists and staff proactively identify and address risk.
- Case summary for delayed diagnosis of oral cancer: Emphasizes the importance of vigilant surveillance, timely biopsy, and clear communication with patients who present with persistent or recurrent oral lesions. It underscores the impact of delayed diagnosis on patient outcomes and the need for adherence to specialty guidelines.
The guidelines suggested here are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each healthcare provider considering the circumstances of the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.
07/26
