Implant claims rise

25 June 2015
Volume 31 · Issue 6

Claims against dental professionals for dental implants are on the rise, with a 41 per cent increase for the period from 2009-2013 in comparison to the previous five years. 

The figures from a study in the new digital journal of the Dental Defence Union (DDU), one of the UK’s leading indemnifiers of dental professionals, also reveal that of those claims settled to date, a staggering £4m has been paid out. 

A total of 311 claims were received by the DDU in relation to dental implants in the 10 year period between 2004 and 2013, with 115 having been settled to date for an average of £34,000, with one claim settling for over £200,000.

The most common reason for claims was ‘failure of treatment’ with over one third citing this as the reason for the claim, while ‘unsatisfactory treatment’ was the second most common reason with 17 per cent of claims alleging this. The figures are a stark reminder of the risks associated with non-essential dental work.

Leo Briggs, dento-legal adviser at the Dental Defence Union says:

“Dental implants may seem like the perfect way to re-build a patient’s smile, but, like any dental treatment there are risks involved and things may not always go to plan.”

“It is important that dental professionals are aware of these risks and take steps to both minimise them and explain them to patients in advance so that they have realistic expectations.”

The DDU advises dentists to:

  • Always obtain and record a detailed patient history and be alert to the contraindications for implant treatment, such as untreated periodontal disease, immunosuppression and smoking.
  • Base any treatment plan on a thorough evaluation of the whole patient.
  • Explain the benefits, risks and alternatives (including no treatment) to patients as part of the consent process and record the discussion in the clinical notes. Be careful not to raise unrealistic expectations of what can be achieved.
  • Give patients a cooling-off period to consider their decision.
  • Provide a written treatment plan and fee estimate and be sure to warn patients of the cost implications if circumstances change.
  • Recognise the limits of your clinical skills. Offer referral to a periodontist, oral surgeon or restorative dentist in complex cases if you lack the necessary training, experience or technical competence.
  • Ensure good communications with all colleagues involved in the patient's dental care to ensure they have the information they need, understand what is expected of them, and can easily raise any queries.
  • Explain to patients how to care for their new implant and stress the importance of rigorous oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups.
  • Ensure patients are carefully monitored for symptoms and signs, such as inflammation at the implant site (peri-implant mucositis) which, if left untreated, might develop into peri-implantitis.
  • Consider a log of implant patients at your practice to ensure appropriate recall intervals are maintained and that enough time is allocated for appointments.

The new DDU digital journal is out now and includes a range of articles including one from Susan N’Jie discussing how the decision is made to settle a claim, as well advice on how best to handle online complaints. To view visit http://ddujournal.theddu.com/