Dentists & Oral Surgeons

Professional liability insurance (malpractice) for dentists and oral surgeons, both DDSs and DMDs, is customarily written on either a claims-made or an occurrence basis. Basic liability limits are usually $1 million per incident, with a $3 million policy aggregate (the maximum amount the policy will pay during the policy period). Excess limits are generally available, either on an individual basis or through a healthcare facility.

Underwriting is based upon a number of different factors, and each insurance company has its own set of criteria. Here are a few of the ways insurance underwriters classify dental professionals.

Nature of Your Practice

Some dental specialties carry a far greater litigation risk and will be priced significantly higher than others. For instance, a general dentist pays a lower premium than a periodontist, who in turn will pay less than an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The administration of anesthesia — conscious sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia — is another key element that significantly impacts the cost of insurance. Premium costs aside, some insurance underwriters are more comfortable with certain practice profiles than others.

Location of Your Practice
Where a dentist practices impact his or her premium. Courts and juries in different jurisdictions often render vastly different verdicts. For instance, in New York, doctors who practice in the southern portion of the state pay a higher premium than upstate practitioners.

Full versus Part Time
How many hours a dentist practices each week is also a factor in pricing the policy. Generally, 20 or more hours per week is considered "full time" and under 20 hours is considered "part time."

Teaching Credits
Some insurance carriers provide discounts to dentists who spend a significant portion of their time teaching.

Continuing Education
While these requirements vary from state to state, most insurers provide discounts to dentists who attend certain continuing education or loss control courses. Many insurance companies sponsor these courses for their policyholders.

Consent to Settle Clauses
Most professionals prefer to maintain their right to consent to a settlement. Insurance companies will sometimes offer discounts to dentists who waive their right to decide when and if to settle claims.

Claims-Free Discounts
Many carriers offer a discount to dentists who have been without claims for a certain period of time, usually five years or more.

Recent Graduate/New Practitioner

Most insurance companies offer substantial discounts to dentists who are just beginning their practice. These discounts usually disappear after a few years.

Claims History

Claims history is a critical factor in the underwriting decision. Underwriters understand the increasingly litigious environment in the United States. They realize that many practitioners have had some degree of claims experience. A underwriter will review "frequency" and "severity." Frequency is how many claims you have had; severity is how much was paid to both defend and/or settle the claim. Depending upon the dentist's specialty, there may be a "frequency" issue; however, most actions should ultimately be either dismissed without payment or settled for nominal amounts. On the other hand, frequent claims can also serve as a "red flag" to an underwriter. High-value claims are looked at very carefully, and are often analyzed by the carrier’s claims department before a decision to insure is made.

For a more in-depth discussion of non-standard medical malpractice insurance for "hard-to-place" professionals, please click here.

Without a doubt, the subject of professional liability insurance for dentists and oral surgeons is complex. The best policy for you, may not be the best policy for the doctor down the hall. We would be happy to discuss your particular situation in greater detail. You can click here and complete a brief inquiry form, which allows us to call you. Or, you can call us at 866-759-0102. We return calls promptly.

As a dental practitioner, your professional reputation and your assets are at stake. The professional relationship we have built with our insurance carriers can help protect you in an increasingly litigious environment.