Professional Liability Insurance for Dentists: Protecting Your Practice

As a dentist, you are relied upon by patients, families and the community at large to provide essential medical services. A person’s oral health can significantly impact their overall well-being, and even slight conditions or issues could quickly become long-term struggles without your assistance. However, while your profession may be necessary and your intentions good, even the most experienced and diligent dentists may need to account for the possibility of things going wrong. With this in mind, professional liability insurance emerges as an advisable investment.

What Is Professional Liability Insurance for Dentists?

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance, is a core component of many businesses’ coverage portfolios. These policies generally focus on financially protecting policyholders from the fiscal fallout of alleged mistakes or other inadequacies in their services. In the case of oral health professionals, this coverage may often be referred to as dental malpractice insurance. As is the case for many medical professionals, dental malpractice insurance may be required by law, as well as health care companies for whom you work.

What Does Dental Malpractice Insurance Cover?

Dental malpractice insurance may often be tailored to suit your practice’s unique circumstances, but generally, these policies should be outfitted with the ability to cover the following accusations:

• Medical errors
• Inaccurate advice
• Misdiagnoses
• Negligence
• Oversights
• Omissions
• Violation of privacy

Why Do You Need Dental Malpractice Insurance?

For even the most responsible and meticulous dental health professionals, malpractice insurance should be a top priority. In addition to satisfying legal requirements and other obligations—thus avoiding noncompliance fines and penalties—accusations of improper services, regardless of whether you’re eventually proven innocent, could incur devastating costs and losses. Consider the following possible scenarios where your insurance may play a critical role:

• If you are conducting an extraction, root canal or other procedure on a patient and your hand slips or you otherwise accidentally injure them, the resulting lawsuit could be costly.
• If a patient visits your practice for a regular checkup and later develops oral cancer without you having diagnosed it at an earlier stage, they may sue your practice.
• If a nonpatient, such as an acquaintance or neighbor, requests medical advice and your input leads to an injury or allergic reaction, they may sue.
• If a client believes you or your practice may have been responsible for violating their privacy by breaching HIPAA, your insurance may limit financial consequences.

We’re Here to Help

A slight slip of your hand, a momentary lapse in concentration or a marginal miscalculation could all have dire ramifications for the health of your patients, and as a result, your practice’s finances and reputation. Fortunately, professional liability insurance for dentists can provide the funds and resources needed to limit these consequences.

Contact the team at Mikel's Insurance Services today to learn more about your coverage options.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.