DENTAL NEGLIGENCE - A STUDY OF CASES ASSESSED AT ONE SPECIALIZED ADVISORY PRACTICE

Aim To undertake a review of cases from one dental advisory practice i n England over a period of 5.5 years to provide a profile of the type of work undertaken. Design and setting Compensation claims for dental negligence seen at one dental advisory practice between 1991 and 1996. Methods 437 claims were reviewed for: the nature of the complaint; de fendant details; plaintiff details; method of funding; duration and ou tcome of claim. Comparisons were made with previously published data. The relationship between method of funding of a claim and the likeliho od of the claim being successful was investigated. Results 28% of comp laints concerned oral surgery and 24%, restorative procedures. In 72% of cases, the compensation claim was made directly against the dentist who had provided treatment for the patient. The majority of claims we re gender and age biased; females (63%) and younger people (18-45 year s of age) (68%) were more likely to bring actions for dental negligenc e. Only 3% involved elderly patients (greater than or equal to 60 year s old). Claims supported by the government legal aid scheme were more likely to be withdrawn or rejected than those privately funded. Nearly all cases were completed in under one year (81%). Conclusions Results are similar to previously published studies. A large proportion of cl aims concerned restorative or oral surgery procedures carried out in g eneral or community practice.