Malpractice insurance is not just for physicians and nurses. Dentists also require this protection against litigation from patients who claim they have suffered mental anguish, pain, and suffering, injury, neglect, or even damage to property because of a dentist’s professional care. If you’re new to the practice of dentistry, are changing where you practice, or simply want to ensure you have the right coverage, the following guide to dental malpractice insurance can help you.
Let’s learn more about this insurance and where you can go to get this insurance in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dental Malpractice Insurance Policies Must Be Tailor-made
No malpractice insurance policy should have one-size fits all coverages. The policy each individual dentist requires depends on his or her:
- Specialty–general dentistry, implant dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, oral surgery, and the like
- Location–state of practice and even location within a community (urban versus rural)
- Type of practice facility (private practice, group practice, medical center, community clinic, governmental agency, or hospital, among others)
- High-volume practice versus a limited number of patients
In other words, your insurer should consider the particulars of your dental practice and select a policy that covers your needs and those of your employees. Most states require dentists to carry malpractice policies that payout one million dollars per single claim or three million dollars per aggregate in one calendar year. These limits may or may not suffice for your practice or your risk tolerance.
Occurrence Versus Claims-made Coverage
Dentists must decide if they wish to buy occurrence policies or claims-made policies. Occurrence policies protect you and your assets when the patient incident happens within the coverage period. Claims-made policies typically are far less expensive and do not cover the dentist after the insurance period lapses.
In either case, know what kind of policy you have and its limits. If you work in private or group practice and leave to work elsewhere, understand how your new practice setting protects you. Keep documentation of your malpractice insurance coverage throughout your career in case you are sued for something which occurred years previously.
Protect Yourself from Medical Malpractice Claims
In general, we are a litigious society. That’s why the right dental malpractice insurance is so important.
Additionally, be sure to know your patients’ needs and therapeutic goals. Chart your treatments and any concerns your patients may have or any refusals for standard care and best practices your patients may make.
American dentists find themselves sued for malpractice at least three times in the course of their professional lives. So, the right malpractice insurance policies are critical for dentists and those most closely associated with them.
Dental Malpractice Insurance in St. Louis, Missouri
At eQuoteMD, our highly trained insurance brokers find our clients the best liability coverage at truly affordable and competitive rates. We help medical and dental professionals of all kinds throughout all fifty states, and we only obtain quotes from A-list companies. Your rates could be substantially less, and your coverage better than what you currently have.
To learn more about dental malpractice insurance or get a complimentary quote, call us today at (855) 823-5283 or request your quote online.
