Why Orthodontists Need Malpractice Insurance

At Baxter & Associates, we service many healthcare professionals—including orthodontists—and help them find comprehensive and affordable malpractice insurance. We’ll explain why orthodontists need malpractice insurance like any other healthcare provider.

Orthodontists Are as Liable as Physicians

While dentistry and orthodontics may not seemingly have the same stakes as physicians and their treatment, an orthodontist can be found just as liable for injury to a patient as any other healthcare provider. Orthodontists are responsible for diagnosing and treating dental and facial irregularities, and treatments can go wrong in many ways.

The field of orthodontics focuses on the face and smile, so incorrect treatment and mistakes can cause permanent damage to a patient’s appearance. In such cases, a patient would be significantly motivated to take action against their healthcare provider, like their orthodontist, in a malpractice lawsuit.

Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Are Common

In today’s healthcare industry, medical malpractice lawsuits are unfortunately common for most healthcare providers. The American Medical Association estimates roughly a third of physicians have been sued for malpractice at some point in their career, with roughly half of those healthcare providers being sued multiple times.

The trend of malpractice lawsuit frequency dates back to the early 1960s in the US, and with the recent strain on the industry from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not expected to decrease any time soon. Orthodontists are not immune to this trend, and if they’re not careful, one mistake could add them to the growing list of healthcare providers sued for malpractice.

Malpractice Settlements Are Increasing

Another key reason why orthodontists need malpractice insurance is that the severity of malpractice rewards and settlements is increasing. Nearly every state in the US has seen an increase in malpractice claim severity in recent years, and the trend is expected to continue.

The typical malpractice injury settlement is in the thousands and trending upward to millions. Without malpractice insurance, orthodontists sued for malpractice could see their financial security evaporate from a settlement or damage reward.

Conclusion

If you’re an orthodontist needing medical malpractice insurance, Baxter & Associates can help. Our expert staff will help you find a policy ideal for your situation, whether you’re an orthodontist, CRNA, chiropractor, or another type of healthcare professional.