By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. In this case study, you will learn how sedation [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. In this real-life case study, dentists will learn how a [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. A teen patient’s persistent maxillary pain led to multiple [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Sometimes criticizing a patient’s prior dental work can [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. In this case study, we explore how a misidentified biopsy [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. In this case study, dentists learn how an [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. In this case study, dentists will discover how a [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Ever wondered what happens when dentists step into [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. In this case study, dentists will gain insight [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Trial attorneys, particularly those representing plaintiffs, have effectively modified [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Dentists must stay informed on new guidelines regarding patients [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. In dental practice, dealing with hard-to-please patients can be [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Lead Dental Risk Solutions Consultant for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. As a dentist, audio recording the informed consent [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Navigating informed consent with patients showing signs of dementia may prove challenging for dentists. In [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Dentists can be liable for adverse outcomes even if they are completely unexpected. In [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. It’s not always clear if a patient’s injury is due to the dental work [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. We turn slightly away from our usual format, based upon some ongoing inquiries from [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Dentists have the difficult task of balancing patient autonomy with the need to provide appropriate [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. In dentistry, medical emergencies, even if unforeseen, can still happen. In this case study, [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Three Dentists Sued for Malocclusion Mismanagement Treating patients with dental malocclusions requires careful evaluation and [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Dentists must make thoughtful decisions about which antibiotics to prescribe for patients. In this [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. To promote patient safety, dentists should be aware of any allergens in dental products [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. As a dentist, obtaining a patient’s complete medical history can prevent treatment complications. In [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., Dental Risk Solutions Lead; Head, Dental Advisory Board, MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. One of the more frequent, and [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Dental implant failures can damage patient trust. In this case study, a dentist refers [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. Patient refusal is an aspect of dental care dentists must navigate. In this [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Learn more about MedPro Group. In dentistry, documentation is an essential element of practice, not only for accurate treatment [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro GroupDentists must strictly adhere to state guidelines about records retention. In this case study, a dentist practicing in two neighboring states neglects to maintain records [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group As a dentist, considering a patient’s complete medical history before commencing treatment can better ensure patient safety. In this case study, a dentist fails [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Under state dental regulations, only licensed professionals can treat patients, with the supervising dentist held responsible through vicarious liability. In this case study, [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group As a dentist, it is not uncommon to treat children experiencing a variety of domestic conditions. In this case study, a dentist refers [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Patient privacy is one of the most crucial aspects of dental care, especially in the present digital landscape. In this case study, a [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Proper communication between dental providers is essential when referring a patient for a procedure. In this case study, a dentist refers a patient [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Informed consent is one of the most important aspects of dental care. When performing a procedure, ensuring through verbal agreement and documentation that [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group In dental practices, there are a variety of numbering systems that are used to identify teeth, which can lead to miscommunication and mistakes. [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group As a dentist, obtaining proper informed consent is crucial to ensure patients are aware of all the potential risks and outcomes of undergoing [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Underlying facts Dr. D was a well-experienced general dentist who practiced in a small rural town, in which she was the only dentist. [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group To make an informed decision about the safety of sedation for each patient, it is crucial for dentists to consider a patient’s medical [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts ‘Dr. J’ was a young general dentist in the process of building her practice, in part through the use of a [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts Dr. T was a relatively young general dentist, practicing in a suburban community for nearly 10 years. She had joined the [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts K, now in her late 50s, has been a dental patient of Dr. B’s since K was a teen and Dr. B [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts T was a 67-year-old man who had smoked cigarettes for more than 35 years, using between 1 and 2 packs per [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts Dr. F was a restorative dentistry solo practitioner who had been in the same practice location for many years, so he [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts L was a 61-year-old woman, a retired elementary school music teacher, who had been a general dentistry patient of Dr. T [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts Dr. R was a restorative dentist practicing in a rural town in the American mountains, with only 2 other dentists within a [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts An 11-year-old boy, J, was a patient of his pediatric dentist, Dr. P, since approximately age 4, as his parents were [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background facts A middle-aged general dentist, Dr. V, was in a practice partnership with his dental school classmate for over 10 years. Both [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background facts A 61-year-old male patient, F, presented to a periodontist, Dr. P, on referral from his general dentist, for evaluation and potential [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background facts As a young child growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, Mrs. H’s physician often prescribed Tetracycline for her frequent respiratory [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background facts A 73-year-old man, whose medical history consisted of diabetes and hypertension, both well-controlled with medication, diet, and weight management presented to [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background facts A woman in her mid-20s had been having discomfort for a number of months in her lower right first molar, which [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Underlying facts Dr. D was a well-experienced general dentist who practiced in a small rural town, in which he was the only dentist. [...]

Photo by Lisa Fotios By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts A healthy 24-year-old woman, a third grade teacher, presented to her primary dental office in which a [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro GroupBackground FactsDr. H, a pediatric dentist in a rural area, saw a 13-year-old male patient whom she had treated since he was about 5. Over [...]

Photo by Alex Green from Pexels By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts A 57-year-old, post-menopausal woman presented to her regular restorative dentist, Dr. E, whom she had seen [...]

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Claims of malpractice are always a source of stress and concern for practitioners who are sued, but looking at [...]

Photos by Tim Samuel and ThisIsEngineering. By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background On referral from her general dentist, a healthy 31-year-old female civil engineer (“Ms. B.”) presented to [...]

Photo by cottonbroProvided by MedPro GroupBackground FactsA 54-year-old, post-menopausal accountant (Ms. P) presented to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (Dr. T) on referral from her general dentist, for the removal of a [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts An 11-year-old boy presented with his father to a dental office in which 2 general dentists and a pediatric dentist practiced. [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., & Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD for MedPro Group Introduction During the recent pandemic, and most particularly when dental offices were either closed or open only for true [...]

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background Facts A 42-year-old healthy woman, Mrs. B, presented to her general dentist, Dr. W, on a scheduled visit [...]

Photo by Ono Kosuki from Pexels By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background facts The insured general dentist had been seeing and treating a 29-year-old male patient since the patient [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro Group Background facts A 67-year-old woman presented to a new general dentist, Dr. A, for a check-up and a cleaning, having recently retired to [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD & Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq. for MedPro GroupIntroductionTechnology has become ubiquitous in almost every aspect of modern living, including how we provide and receive healthcare. Today’s communication [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., for MedPro Group Initial events An experienced general dentist (we’ll call him Dr. A) on the verge of retirement was greeted as he entered his office [...]

By Marc Leffler, DDS, Esq., for MedPro Group Case Study Background A 59-year-old woman had been a patient of the same general dentist since she was in her teens, shortly after the [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD, for MedPro Group Introduction Every new dentist faces the same dilemma: there is no replacement for experience. As new dentists settle into practice, hopefully they understand their [...]

By Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM for MedPro Group Patient Safety & Risk Solutions Healthcare providers who offer cosmetic and aesthetic services often take satisfaction in knowing that they are helping [...]

Provided by MedPro Group Patient Safety & Risk Solutions The quality, knowledge, and dedication of employees play a significant role in the success of any business or organization, including healthcare practices. An [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD, for MedPro Group Introduction Perfect clinical performance is a noble, but unachievable, goal in dentistry—errors can and will occur during the course of patient care. Typically, [...]

Provided by MedPro Group Background Facts A 37-year-old man presented to his general dentist in excruciating pain associated with a lower left canine tooth, #22; the tooth had undergone trauma during [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD for MedPro Group Introduction To err is human. This observation from the Institute of Medicine was true when written in the landmark 1999 publication To Err [...]

By MaryAnn Digman, RN, MSHA, and Gail Harris, RN, MS, MA for MedPro Group As patients are living longer, it is likely that they will develop medical conditions that could be problematic [...]

By Marcy A. Metzgar for MedPro Group Definition In dentistry, jousting refers to a dentist being critical of another dentist’s treatment and assuming inadequate care was provided to a patient. In turn, [...]

Provided by MedPro Group There are many ways dissatisfied patients can seek monetary compensation from and/or restitution from dentists whom they believe improperly treated them. There are a number of paths [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD for MedPro Group Background Nonadherent (also called noncompliant) patients are nothing new to the practice of dentistry. When patients won’t adhere to treatment plans and/or refuse [...]

Provided by MedPro Group Question When should older pediatric dental patients transition to general dental practices? Answer Pediatric dentists sometimes find that they’re treating older pediatric patients who have become young [...]

By Laura M. Cascella, MA, CPHRM for MedPro Group The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rocked the healthcare community, sending ripples of uncertainty in relation to patient and healthcare worker safety, [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD for MedPro Group Background A challenge in any healthcare setting is maintaining a healthy patient load for a profitable practice, but not becoming too busy that [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD for MedPro Group Background As in the practice of all healthcare, the practice of dentistry is imperfect science. Even when exercising all due care, complications do [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD for MedPro Group Background In the practice of dentistry, as in all healthcare, we strive for perfect results. However, sooner or later, a case occurs in [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD for MedPro Group Background A necessary prerequisite to efficacious dental treatment is an accurate diagnosis. Misdiagnosis can result in failure to treat, undertreatment, or overtreatment. As this [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD for MedPro Group Background Many malpractice suits against dentists result from care that seemed routine and unremarkable when rendered. However, when patient injury results—whatever the cause—the [...]

RAWLE & HENDERSON LLP; Marc R. Leffler, Esq., Partner | William S. Spiegel, Esq., Partner for MedPro Group Different states have different time limitations (known as statutes of limitations) as to [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD for MedPro Group Background In healthcare risk management, miscommunication is often a precursor to a misunderstanding and—ultimately—a mistake. The following case aptly illustrates how the likelihood [...]

Provided by MedPro Group More than ever, people are using personal electronic devices (PEDs)—such as laptops, cellphones, tablets, e-readers, and other “smart” devices—as part of everyday life. This trend will undoubtedly continue to grow as [...]

Provided by MedPro Group Patient Safety & Risk Solutions What Is Negligent Referral? Occasionally, dentists are accused of “negligent referral”—referring patients to specialists who mishandle the patients’ cases and cause injuries. This [...]

Provided by Rawle & Henderson LLP; Marc R. Leffler, Esq., Partner; William S. Spiegel, Esq., Partner for the MedPro Group In order to prove a case in dental malpractice, a plaintiff [...]

Provided by the MedPro GroupThe internet and social media have fundamentally changed the ways in which healthcare consumers gather and exchange information. More and more, patients are looking online to address their healthcare needs and [...]

Spiegel Leffler PLLC for MedPro Group Over the past decade, the placement of endosseous implants to replace missing teeth has become pervasive in dental practice. In the 1980s, when implants were in their infancy, [...]

By Mario Catalano, DDS, MAGD and Theodore Passineau, JD, HRM, RPLU, CPHRM, FASHRM for MedPro Group Unfortunately, in the practice of dentistry, a cluster of symptoms may indicate more than one disease condition. The [...]