Most people want to avoid thinking about getting hurt, but the fact is, injuries and illnesses do happen. The point isn’t to dwell on the negative but to focus on how income may be replaced in the event of an unforeseen health event. Disability income insurance is a way to manage this risk.
While you are in dental school, it’s common to think that you don’t need to worry about things such as insurance because you’re still in training. Some might think that insurance can be dealt with once “real life” kicks in, yet there are some compelling reasons for securing disability income …
Imagine you’re out riding your bike, getting some exercise, enjoying the fresh air and then it happens: You have an accident. What if you’re unable to continue your studies? How would you pay your bills and your student loans?
Risk management is our best defense to ensure a healthy and prosperous dental practice. Ranging from malpractice claims to employee claims, becoming familiar with common lawsuits in dentistry is critical. It is also vital to practice risk management in your dental practice. Risk management is significant in combating and defending yourself against claims and lawsuits. Outlined are essential details to recognize when considering risk management in your dental practice.
After you begin to practice dentistry, you will seek advice from advisors in all kinds of arenas: legal, accounting, financial and more. You will rely on the advice of these key advisors to make wise and beneficial decisions. Therefore, not only is it important that you form a “team” of dental-specific advisors to help guide you during your entire career, but it is important to understand the areas in which risk management will be imperative to you as a practitioner.
Large dental groups can sometimes impose quotas on dentists who work there. Sometimes those quotas include procedures that may be beyond the training and experience of the dentist. In one particular claim, a patient was scheduled for one surface composite restoration. The treatment plan included the extraction of #17, but the patient was supposed to be referred to an OMS for that extraction. The dentist was “pressured” by the employer to extract tooth #17 on the day the patient presented for the surface composite restoration. Concerned that refusing to perform the extraction might have led to consequences in the practice, the dentist extracted the tooth. It was a difficult procedure, and a paresthesia resulted. The dentist was sued, and the lawsuit alleged the dentist performed a procedure beyond his training as well as a lack of communication – the patient thought she was only going to have a restoration.
