Frequency of Dental Complaints Filed in the Medical Council Organization of Three Selected Cities of Mazandaran Province

Abstract

Background and Aim: The frequency of patient complaints, and subsequent lawsuits filed by patients against dentists has been on the rise in the recent years. Given the importance of being aware of these issues and preventing them, the purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of dental complaints filed in the Medical Council Organization of three cities of Mazandaran Province (Sari, Babol and Amol) from 2011 to 2019. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study. Complaints against dentists filed in the Medical Council Organization of three cities of Mazandaran Province (Sari, Babol and Amol) from 2011 to 2019 were retrieved and reviewed. The gender of plaintiffs and defendants, subject of the claim, defendants’ field of expertise, and final verdict were assessed. Data analysis was done using SPSS 19 by the Chi-square test, independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney test. Results: A total of 120 complaints were retrieved from 2011 to 2019; the highest frequency of complaints was related to 2019 (19.2%). Most complaints were related to Babol city (45%), and the frequency of lawsuits against male dentists was higher than female dentists (P<0.001). The highest frequency of complaints was related to root canal treatment (31.6%), prosthetic treatments (28.3%), and surgical procedures (25.8%). Conclusion: The highest frequency of complaints was related to Babol city and from dental offices. Also, most complaints were filed against general dentists.