Abstract
PURPOSE:
The
aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of implant
dentistry claims in Italy based on insurance company technical reports
for malpractice claims.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
One
hundred twenty-one technical reports of cases of professional
malpractice in implant dentistry between 2006 and 2010 were included in
the study. Data included the sex and age of the patient and dentist, the
kind of negligence claimed, and the damages awarded as a consequence of
the alleged misconduct.
RESULTS:
Of
the cases examined in this study, 9.9% went to court. The patients were
female in 73.6% of the cases. Most of the technical errors were
committed during implant insertion (82.6%). In 50.4% of cases, the
technical error involved the surrounding structures, such as damage to
the inferior alveolar nerve (32.2%) or the lingual nerve (2.5%),
invasion of the maxillary sinus (9.1%), or pulpal dental necrosis in
adjacent teeth (6.6%). Incomplete clinical documentation was apparent in
54.5% of cases. In 9.9% of cases, a civil suit had already been filed
before a visit, and medicolegal advice from the insurance expert had
been procured.
CONCLUSION:
The
discrepancy between the total number of cases examined and those that
went to court indicates that implant malpractice claims in Italy are
most often settled out of court. The large number of intraoperative
errors seen and the high proportion of injuries to surrounding
structures suggest that implant dentists would benefit from further
specific training. Also, clinical documentation vital to a defense
against any claims relating to professional misconduct was incomplete or
absent in more than half of the cases.
Comments