Medicolegal consideration in endodontics: General and surgical aspects

Abstract

Patient injuries in relation to medical treatment and in particular conventional or surgical endodontics might under certain circumstances trigger a wish for economical compensation. In many parts of the world, the patient would have to take the practitioner into a civil court to get compensation. However, in a number of countries, there is a legislation which deals with injuries in relation to medical treatment and compensation. Medicolegal considerations in relation to endodontic treatment are in a few countries particularly detailed. Endodontic complaints and insurance cases are relatively frequently occurring. A subcategorization of endodontic complaints shows that the suboptimal root filling represents a potential risk for complaints. Endodonticsurgery as an area of claim per se seems lesser involved than conventional endodontics. Statistics about endodontic claims may indicate where risk management and educational efforts can be most effectively directed to improve the standard of care. “Lessons to learn” are presented only in cases where the “complained tooth” has been treated with the use of endodontic surgery.