Claims against dentists continue to rise

Figures from MDDUS’ Annual Report for 2012 reveal a 53 per cent rise in claims intimated against General Dental Practitioners over the year compared to 2011, while there is also a 67 per cent increase in the number of GDC cases handled.

A small part of the increase in claims can be attributed to our growing membership with dental members increasing by 3.3 per cent in 2012, but the steep rise reflects the trend in increased litigation with MDDUS seeing evidence of a growing compensation culture in the UK over the last few years.

“This rise in claims may be related to the harsh economic climate of recent years but is being manifested in increasing claim rates and consequent legal costs,” says MDDUS head of dental division Aubrey Craig.

“Dentists are being subjected to a rapidly growing number of claims yet we see no evidence to suggest a drop in standards or patient care.