Medical Malpractice Insurance News

Be sure to register for these May 2022 events for New York State Dentists! Dental professionals are invited to join us for several upcoming in-person occasions, including a job fair and a paper shredding day. Read the event details in the blog.

There are lots of exciting events coming up for dentists this April 2022! In this blog, find information about the Greater Long Island Dental Meeting, the Bronx County Dental Society job fair, several educational webinars and the long-awaited dental society officer installations. We hope you can attend some of these events.

One of the most challenging times to be a dental practice owner is right after disaster strikes. Whether the emergency is related to weather, theft, cybersecurity breaches or something else, the owner must lead the office out of the crisis while mitigating the damage as much as possible. Recovering from a disaster at your dental office is possible, especially if the owner and other office leaders are familiar with emergency response protocol ahead of time. Here are eight important steps to take after disaster strikes your dental office.

A longtime patient of a MLMIC-insured dentist underwent extensive dental work over a period of seven years. The patient filed a lawsuit shortly after the work was completed, alleging a negligent full-mouth restoration resulting in bone loss, extractions, and the need for re-treatment. The dentist being sued reported to MLMIC that he was unable to produce much of the patient’s record as there had been multiple floods in the building that affected his office dental records.

Like many industries and sectors, dental school clinics in the U.S. were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those impacts extended to dental students, community members, faculty, finances and more. A recent study assessed the effect of COVID-19 on dental school-based clinics.

It is challenging to handle dental record protocol in the event that paper or electronic records have been damaged or destroyed by floods, other types of storms or by a ransomware attack. When dental records have been damaged or lost by accident, natural disaster or criminal computer compromise, prompt and appropriate action must be taken to mitigate the damage and/or loss. Immediate remedial measures must be undertaken for the benefit of patients as well as the dentist and the practice, as these losses may involve records from many years of treatment.

It was with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of our colleague, Dr. Mark Feldman, after a long illness. For many years, Dr. Feldman led the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) as its executive director. He also served on the MLMIC Board of Directors. His colleagues remember him as a man of unfailing grace and charm who believed passionately in MLMIC’s mission.

Would it be possible to achieve a dental cavity-free future? A recent article says yes, if there are global collaborations and policy consensus. Caries and cavities are the world’s most prevalent non-communicable disease. Despite that, cavities are typically ignored in health policy. The authors of the article emphasize the severity of the issue and provide four recommendations for integrating oral health into overall wellness.

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.

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.