Publications & Resources

High-Severity Dental Liability Case Study: Oral Cancer

A 47-year-old male presented to his dentist with a sore on the inside of his cheek which, months later, was discovered to be oral cancer and led, unfortunately, to the patient’s death. A lack of proper documentation in the dental record and patient noncompliance led to this settlement.

Undiagnosed Oral Cancer and a Faulty EDR System

In this case, a 36-year-old patient alleged that a dentist and his professional corporation failed to diagnose and treat a lesion on the side of the tongue resulting in a delayed diagnosis of oral cancer.

Disposing of Paper Dental Records and Imaging: Best Practices for Dentists

While many dentists have already completely embraced the electronic dental record, some practices still find the need to dispose of paper records and imaging. The following is some general information to consider when destroying paper dental records and imaging.

HIV Confidentiality in Dentistry: Answers to Dentists’ FAQs

Dentists know the vital importance of patient confidentiality, but it’s valuable to revisit how standard confidentiality and patient protections are heightened when it comes to HIV status.

Case Study: Successful Use of Summary Judgment

Take a look at this real-world example of how MLMIC uses summary judgment to promote favorable legal outcomes for our physicians.

High-Severity Dental Liability Case Study: Oral Cancer

A 47-year-old male presented to his dentist with a sore on the inside of his cheek which, months later, was discovered to be oral cancer and led, unfortunately, to the patient’s death. A lack of proper documentation in the dental record and patient noncompliance led to this settlement.

High-Severity Dental Liability Cases: An Overconfident Dentist

A 52-year-old male presented to a general dentist with multiple dental issues. This dentist, who had no advanced training, completed a complex full mouth restoration on the patient that included sinus lifts, bone grafting, root canals, extractions, implants and more. Here’s what happened.

High-Severity Dental Liability Case Study: Poor Patient Management

This case of a 55-year-old female who underwent tooth restoration elucidates significant problems with the dentist’s management of the patient’s treatment, beginning with a lack of informed consent. Take a few minutes to learn from the outcome of this high-severity dental liability case.

High-Severity Dental Liability Cases: Infrequent but Dangerous

A small portion of lawsuits brought alleging dental malpractice reach the threshold of “high severity,” which, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) definition, involve serious permanent disability or death. Get an overview of these cases, which are driven by the value or potential value of the injury alleged.

Answers to Dentists’ FAQs About Dental Records: A Legal Perspective

Whether you’re a new dentist or someone who has been practicing for years, we all know that keeping accurate and up-to-date documentation is very important. We encourage you to read our most recent blog for a deep dive into the topic of dental records and why they’re important for you and your patients.