Dental Malpractice Insurance FAQs

The average dental malpractice payout is about $68,000, according to the National Practitioner Data Bank. That number is limited to the actual indemnity payment to a plaintiff, which doesn’t include high defense costs.
Malpractice insurance is one way to protect your dental practice from negligence claims and additional court-based fees. Dental malpractice insurance is a form of professional liability. Malpractice insurance has many tangible benefits, but it also gives you something else: peace of mind. Put your anxieties, fears and stress to rest by knowing you have coverage if malpractice claims arise.

Check out these frequently asked questions (FAQs) about dental malpractice insurance. If you still have questions, call Mikel’s Insurance Services at 855-758-9649 and talk to one of our insurance experts.

What Are Common Reasons for the Filing of Dental Malpractice Cases?
Some common scenarios during a procedure or appointment considered dental malpractice are a chipped or fractured tooth, improper tooth extraction, gum damage, nerve injury, infection from equipment or an unsanitary office, prolonged treatment, failure to diagnose conditions and improper administration of anesthesia.

What Does Dental Malpractice Insurance Cover? Dental professional liability will provide support for you if a lawsuit is filed against you, whether it bears any truth or not. This insurance covers court fees and puts someone in your corner to fight for you. Without malpractice insurance, you could accumulate costly court fees or lose your license altogether.

A dental malpractice policy may help cover the following:

How Does Dental Malpractice Insurance Work? 
To obtain dental malpractice insurance, a dentist must first have a valid license to practice dentistry. After successfully securing coverage, dental professionals and practices may receive compensation for lawsuits made against them.

How Much Is Dental Malpractice Insurance? 
Newly established dentists can typically lock in lower rates for the first five years they’re in business. Dental malpractice insurance prices vary depending on the policy type, the amount of purchased coverage and your practice location. For example, dental malpractice insurance rates vary from state to state—and policies for dental practices in large metropolitan areas tend to be higher than those in rural areas.

To tailor the right coverage for your business, contact the experts at Mikel’s Insurance Services. We’re the largest dental malpractice insurer nationally and have provided personalized insurance support to more than 40,000 dental professionals.