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.

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.

MLMIC CMO Dr. John Lombardo: The Importance of Maintaining Perspective When Facing a Jury Trial

In a message from MLMIC Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lombardo, Dr. Lombardo discusses the instance of a malpractice case that goes to jury trial, including words of reassurance and insights from his own experience. Read his note, which serves as an introduction to the Q1 2023 issue of The Scope: Dental Edition.

Is Your Dental Professional Liability Insurance Policy Due for a Checkup?

Is it time to update your liability insurance policy? With most COVID-19 restrictions being lifted and practices returning to normal, it is important that you review your policy and update our underwriters of any changes to ensure proper coverage is in place. The following checklist will help you determine if you should reach out to MLMIC or your liability provider.

Making Sense of Your First Employment Contract After Dental Residency

When dental residents finish training and are faced with their first contract, they may be overwhelmed by the amount of information to sift through. We’ll help you sort through the most important elements of employment contracts and negotiations, starting from the time you are recruited.

Updates to COVID-19 Guidance for Dental Practices as of February 2022

With the continued impact of COVID-19 around the United States, it is important that dentists stay up to date on the latest guidance from the CDC, OSHA and the ADA. Here are the updates you should know about to keep your dental practice safe and in compliance with health recommendations, as of February 2022.

Risk Management Best Practices for Dental Offices During COVID-19

Two years into the pandemic, we have the benefit of research and experience to help dentists make informed decisions for their practices. Unfortunately, the end is still not in sight. New York State and the entire country are facing a surge of coronavirus cases due to the incredibly infectious Omicron variant. To help you handle the current situation, read our risk management best practices for dental offices during COVID-19.

Case Study: Flood-Damaged Dental Records Force Dentist to Settle

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.