Endodontic claims increasing

The Dental Defence Union (DDU) issued the advice in an article in the latest digital journal in response to an increase in endodontic claims.

Over a ten year period up to 2014, root canal treatment featured in over 1,400 claims notified by DDU members, which was nearly a quarter of the total. There were 42 per cent more claims in the second five years than the first (838 compared with 591).

Eric Easson, DDU dento-legal adviser and author of the DDU’s endodontic claims analysis, explained:

“Root canal treatment is often regarded with dread by patients, and although the success rate is 90 per cent if carried out to a good standard, it is a significant cause of claims and complaints reported to the DDU. 

“Given that over 5.6m NHS dental patients had root canal treatment in England in 2014/15 and many more would have been treated privately, it is not surprising that in a small number of cases, there is a poor outcome. At the same time, root canal procedures demand a higher level of technical skills than many other dental restorations and there are a range of risk factors to consider. In short, endodontic procedures are risky and a miscalculation can prove costly in terms of a poor outcome for the patient and the potential for a claim or complaint. It’s vital that dentists know their limitations and are prepared to refer patients to a specialist if this is in their best interests.”