Publications & Resources

Get insights and guidance from MLMIC and other leading sources on medical professional liability, risk management, and more.

Category: Dentists

Risk Management Checklists for Dentists: Medication Management

MLMIC encourages policyholders to review these important Risk Management Checklists on medication management, specifically, handling prescription medication to maximize patient safety. Be sure to view or download the checklist for use in your dental practice.

Risk of Spreading COVID-19 During Dental Procedures? Fairly Low, Study Finds

At the beginning of COVID-19, dental practices were initially seen as a particularly risky location to visit. After all, dentists work in patients’ mouths, patients can’t wear a mask during dental treatment and we’ve come to understand that SARS-CoV-2 is present in the mouth. However, recent research found that dental procedures during COVID-19 are not much riskier than taking a drink of water.

Dentists’ Feelings About Teledentistry Changed During COVID-19. Here’s How.

The healthcare sector has changed dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of those changes are here to stay. One of the most notable changes for dentists is the increased use of teledentistry. A study in Colombia aimed to study the impact of COVID-19 on dentists’ knowledge and attitudes toward teledentistry. Here’s what they found.

Selling Your Dental Practice: Tips From A Healthcare Law Attorney

At some point in time, every dentist who owns his or her practice will contemplate selling, whether as an exit strategy, pathway to retirement or, occasionally, by necessity. Planning and closing your sale will take time, and beginning the process early will serve you, your employees and your buyer’s future patients.

Risk Management Checklists for Dentists: Dentist-Patient Relationships

MLMIC encourages policyholders to review these important Risk Management Checklists on dentist-patient relationships, including guidance on properly discontinuing the dentist-patient relationship, treating patients with whom you have a close relationship, managing patient noncompliance and managing negative online reviews.

Be Prepared: Five Tips for Dental Residency

Residency can be very different from dental school. Having an idea of what to expect will help you start on a strong note. Read our top five tips for new or soon-to-be-new dentists as they prepare for residency.

Risk Management Checklists for Dentists: Patient Communication

MLMIC encourages policyholders to review these important Risk Management Checklists for Dentists on patient communication, including guidance on after-hours calls, communication between consulting and referring dentists, sharing test results and communicating with low health literacy patients.

Case Study: Good Documentation Leads to a Verdict for the Dentist

An adult patient with poor oral hygiene routinely visited a MLMIC-insured dentist for years. The poor home care led to extensive periodontal treatment, and the patient filed a lawsuit against the insured which eventually went to trial. Comprehensive documentation on the insured’s part played a pivotal part in the defense. Find out what happened in this case study, complete with a legal perspective from Fager, Amsler, Keller & Schoppmann attorneys.

Case Study: Poor Patient Relations and Prolonged Treatment Result in Large Settlement

An adult patient went to a MLMIC-insured orthodontist requesting treatment to make his teeth perfect. Seven years later, the patient filed a lawsuit claiming that the orthodontist’s treatment was careless, reckless and contraindicated. What went wrong? Find out in this case study, complete with a legal and risk management perspective from a Fager, Amsler, Keller & Schoppmann attorney.

ADA and Federal Government Align on Priorities to End Opioid Epidemic

The Biden-Harris Administration recently released its Statement of Drug Policy Priorities to continue the effort to end the opioid epidemic. The list works in tandem with the American Dental Association’s similar goals to curb opioid use. Knowledge about opioid prescription misuse is crucial for dentists, who prescribe 1 in 10 opioid prescriptions in the United States.