Dental Malpractice in Prosthodontics, Endodontics, and Restorative Dentistry: The Prevalence in Saudi Arabia
Additional Files
Aim: The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of dental malpractice in the fields of prosthodontics, endodontics, and restorative dentistry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Materials and Methods: 251 patients ≥18 years of age selected randomly were examined clinically for substandard dental treatments done in dental premises in KSA in the following fields: Prosthodontics (substandard crown and bridge placement in relation to tooth preparation and crown adaptation, PFM crown and bridge placement on feather edge finishing line, substandard post and core), endodontics (substandard root canal (RCT) treatment), and restorative dentistry (overhanging restorations: class II, III, IV, V). The data obtained were documented in a patient examination form then statistically analyzed using Chi-Square Test.
Results: There was a significant difference in the percentages (number) of dental malpractice observations in all of the three types (prosthodontics, endodontics, restorative dentistry) p-value =0.001<0.05, and the dental malpractice observations were not equally distributed. Therefore, endodontics malpractice was of the first rank up to 40% followed by restorative dentistry malpractice of the second rank up to 33% then prosthodontics malpractice of the third rank up to 27%.
Conclusion: Dentists must consider ethical principles and acceptable standards and protocols of diagnosis and treatment. There is high need for improving the technical skills of practitioners in root canal treatments. Also, stressing on the importance of using wedges to avoid overhanging dental restorations. Social and economic factors in the Saudi society might play a role in the lower percentages of prosthodontics malpractice in KSA.
Keywords: Malpractice, Prosthodontics, Endodontics, Restorative Dentistry.
Dental Malpractice Law and Legal Definition. US Legal. 1997-2016. Available from:https://definitions.uslegal.com/d/dental-malpractice/.Accessed June 26, 2017.
Sirajuddin S, Narasappa KM, Gundapaneni V, Chungkham S, Walikar AS. Iatrogenic Damage to Periodontium by Restorative Treatment Procedures: An Overview. Open Dent J. 2015;9:217–222.
Black A. Preventive treatment of periodontal diseases. NW Dental J. 1912;10:60–73.
Waerhaug J. Effect of rough surfaces upon gingival tissue. J Dent Res. 1956;35:323–325.
Siqueira Jr JF.Standing on our standards: Time for reflection. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology. 2010;110(5):545–547.
Shillingburg HT, Sather DA, Wilson EL, et al. Preparations for full coverage crowns. In: Huffman L, editor. Fundamentals of Fixed Prosthodontics. 4th ed. Illinois: Quintessence;2012:149-163.
Shillingburg HT, Sather DA, Wilson EL, et al. Preparations for severely debilitated teeth. In: Huffman L, editor. Fundamentals of Fixed Prosthodontics. 4th ed. Illinois: Quintessence;2012:203-227.
Roberson TM, Heymann HO, Ritter AV, Pereira PNR. Class I, II, and VI Direct Composite and Other Tooth-Colored Restorations. In: Roberson TM, Heymann HO, Swift Jr EJ, editors. Sturdevant’s art and science of operative Dentistry. 5th ed. Missouri: Mosby;2006:569-599.
Bjørndal L, Nielsen H, Rud V. Medicolegal Consideration in Endodo-ntics: General and Surgical Aspects. In: Tsesis I. editor. Complications in Endodontic Surgery. Verlag BerlinHeidelberg: Springer; 2014:167-175.
René N, Öwall B. Dental malpractice in Sweden. J Law Ethics Dent.1991;4:16–31.
Milgrom P, Fiset L, Whitney C, Conrad D, Cullen T, O’Hara D. Malpractice claims during 1988–1992: a national survey of dentists. J Am Dent Assoc. 1994;125:462–469.
Ozdemir MH, Saracoglu A, Ozdemir AU, Ergonen AT. Dental malpractice in Turkey during 1991–2000. J Clin Forensic Med. 2005;12:137–142.
Hapcook Sr CP. Dental malpractice claims: Percentages and procedures. J Am Dent Assoc. 2006;137(10):1444–1445.
Bjørndal L, Reit C. Endodontic malpractice claims in Denmark 1995–2004. Int Endod J. 2008;41:1059–1065.
Kiani M, Sheikhazadi A. A five-year survey for dental malpractice claims in Teheran, Iran. J Forensic Leg Med. 2009;16:76–82.
Givol N, Rosen E, Taicher S, Tsesis I. Risk management in endodontics. J Endod. 2010;36:982–984.
Pinchi V, Pradella F, Gasparetto L, Norelli G-A. Trends in endodontic claims in Italy. Int Dent J. 2013;63:43-48.
Witherspoon J. Dental Malpractice Statistics. EzineArticles.2017. Available from:http://ezinearticles.com/?Dental-Malpractice-Statistics&id=5898671. Accessed June 25, 2017.
