Dental Assistant Insurance

Determining the appropriate level of cover for dental assistants depends on several factors, including the nature of your work and responsibilities, the types of procedures you assist with, your work setting (private practice, NHS, or both), and your employment status (full-time, part-time, or locum).

Yes, dental assistants can be sued for malpractice. While it may be less common than claims against dentists, dental assistants are not immune to legal action. Patients may file claims against dental assistants for various reasons, including:

• Failure to properly sterilise equipment, leading to infection
• Improper handling of patient records or confidential information
• Mistakes in taking or recording patient medical histories
• Errors in administering local anaesthesia (if permitted within your scope of practice)
• Failure to adequately monitor patients during procedures
• Miscommunication of post-treatment care instructions

Having proper malpractice insurance ensures that you’re protected financially and legally in the event of such claims.

Understanding common malpractice claims can help dental assistants take proactive steps to minimise risks. Some of the most frequent claims include:

• Infection control failures
• Improper handling of dental materials or medications
• Miscommunication of treatment plans or post-operative instructions
• Failure to obtain informed consent
• Errors in patient record management
• Breach of patient confidentiality
• Assisting in procedures beyond the scope of practice

While some dental practices may have insurance policies that extend cover to their employees, including dental assistants, this cover may be limited. Relying solely on an employer’s insurance policy can leave dental assistants vulnerable in several ways:

Cover Limits

The practice’s policy may have limits that are quickly exhausted in the event of a major claim, potentially leaving individual staff members exposed.

Scope of Cover

Employer policies may not cover all aspects of a dental assistant’s work, particularly if you perform duties at multiple practices or engage in volunteer work.

Conflicts of Interest

In some cases, the interests of the practice and the individual dental assistant may not align, potentially compromising your defence in a malpractice claim.

Portability

If you change employers or work as a locum, you may find yourself without cover during transitions.

For these reasons, we strongly recommend dental assistants obtain their own malpractice insurance policies to ensure extensive and consistent protection throughout their careers.

So, it’s clear that selecting the right malpractice insurance policy is a crucial decision for dental assistants. To help your decision-making process, we recommend keeping these factors in mind when choosing a policy:

• Cover limits – Ensure the policy provides adequate cover for potential claims in your area of practice.
• Scope of cover – Look for policies that cover all aspects of your work, including any specialised procedures you may assist with.
• Claims-made vs occurrence-based policies – Understand the difference between these two policies and choose the one that best suits your needs.
• Run-off cover – Consider policies that offer run-off cover, which protects you for a limited time even after you’ve left the field, in case any claims are formulated against you by previous patients.
• Cost and payment options – Compare premiums and look for insurers that offer flexible payment plans to help you spread the cost of your cover.
• Insurer reputation – Choose an insurance provider with a strong track record in the dental industry and excellent customer service.

We pride ourselves on making insurance simple and stress-free for dental professionals. Our team of experts is always available to help you select the right policy for your unique needs.

The cost of dental assistant malpractice insurance can vary widely depending on factors such as your experience level, the nature of your work, and the cover limits you choose.

Absolutely! We offer tailored insurance solutions for all types of work arrangements. Our policies can be adjusted to reflect your specific working hours and responsibilities, ensuring you have appropriate cover without paying for more than you need.

If a claim is made against you, it’s crucial to act quickly and follow these steps:

1. Do not admit liability or discuss the incident with anyone other than your insurance provider or legal representative.
2. Contact Jensten immediately to report the claim.
3. Gather all relevant documentation, including patient records and any correspondence related to the incident.
4. Cooperate fully with your insurance provider and legal representatives assigned to your case.
5. Maintain patient confidentiality throughout the process.

Our team will guide you through each step of the claims process, providing support and expertise to help resolve the situation as efficiently as possible.