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Malpractice Insurance Says “No” to Formal Guarantees
While dentists feel strongly about standing behind their work, only one in six offers an official guarantee to their dental patients. In this survey, only 18% of dentists reported that they formally guarantee their dental work.
“My malpractice insurance carrier doesn’t want me to guarantee anything verbally or in writing,” said one dentist. “However, if the treatment hasn’t held up due to something I could have done better, I always redo it at no charge.”
Overall, dentists were not enthusiastic about formal guartantees.
- “A guarantee? Are you nuts?” (California dental implantologist)
- “I never offer a written formal guarantee. I do assure patients that I stand behind my work and that any work done will be modified or replaced if need be.” (New York dentist)
- “I feel that a guarantee would just add legal problems with non-compliant patients.” (Tennessee dentist)
- “I stand behind my work 100%. I do not offer a written guarantee. You can’t be responsible for patient neglect.” (Utah dentist)
- “I would not guarantee the sun will come up tomorrow.” (Pediatric dentist)
- “I guarantee my best effort.” (Kentucky endodontist)
Post your own thoughts or read the complete dental guarantee survey results
Post a comment
August 6th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Guarantees are a violation of the Code of Ethics as set down by the CDA.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:30 am
It would be interesting to hear from the 1 in 6 who offer guarantees. What makes them think it’s not going to get them in trouble?
August 6th, 2008 at 10:01 am
i would not guarantee anything to my patient ,but i will redo it for free if it is not patient negligence .
August 7th, 2008 at 12:00 am
i will not guarantee the procedures done to the patient… but will redo it if not due to patient negligence…moreover its not ethical to do so…
August 8th, 2008 at 11:15 am
MY GUARANTEES EQUAL THE SAME GUARANTEE THAT I RECEIVED FROM MY $25000 CAR WHEN PURCHASED AT MY DEALER . OR
ASK THE PATIENT TO BUY AN WARRANTY INSURANCE TO COVER THE WORK .
November 19th, 2008 at 2:42 am
I received similar answers recently when asking dentists what they thought about guaranteeing their work.
Those opposed said dentistry was a dynamic process with too many variables, or local/state restrictions prohibited them from offering a warranty.
Those in favor of a guarantee suggested that an “implied warranty” together with informed consent might be a better overall solution.
John Barremore
Houston, TX
January 11th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
A number of years ago, a dental collegue in Montreal was interviewed by the local newspaper on impplant dentistry.
He explained the training he had to go through to become a credential member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
The reporter asked him what he does if an implant fails in the first year, and he, being a decent person and a good cand caring dentist, simply stated that he would replace the impplant free of charge.
The Quebec Order of Dentists disciplinary department simply picked this statement us “as offering a guarantee”…which is illegal in Quebec.
My collegue, fought the Ordre in several courts, until he arrived at the superior court, and out of the lower courts which are managed by the Order of dentists and the Tribunal des Professions.
In the Superior court, he won his case……however it cost him over $30,0000.00 in legal fees to make his point.
Since that time, most dental implant manufacturers offer the dentists a five or ten year warranty on their implants,bascially saying that if their implant system has failed, they would give the dentist another free implant for him to surgically put back into the patient.
Bottom line, be careful when offering or implying a professional guarantee for services rendered, especially if you practice in Quebec.
Lawyers do not offer their clients a guarantee that they will win a case… but absolutely guarantee the clients that they will come after them if they do not pay the full fee ….win or lose!!!
October 9th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I am concerned that anyone who would conduct a survey of any kind would publish results on just 55 respondents. There are well over a hundred thousand dentist in the USA so is this really a quality sample? It is certainly not a quantity one!
Responsible media will typically present reasonable content on both sides of an issue. Of the respondents that do offer a written guarantee, what is their local impact from a competitive perspective? I suspect these Dentists draw more new patients and keep more of the ones they have than there peers, but then again, this supposition has no more weight than the survey we’ve just witnessed.
I would be very interested to see the legal doctrine referenced in a couple of the respondents. Is a written guarantee really illegal in GA? Please blog with a direct reference.
March 25th, 2010 at 3:41 am
After a $30,000.00 reconstruction resulting in TMD I suffered a newly crowned molar abscess. My DDS kept shrugging it off as grinding…”Learn to deal with it!” I am not a grinder. My face was swollen from my eye into my neck & my DDS refused to look at an xray till I had one taken by his colleague. Tho he stated he didn’t do root canals he performed 4 unsuccessful rct’s all necrotic. All untreated with antibiotics.
My newly crowned molar broke due to weakening & my DDS angrily slathered a rough substance over it with visible debris under it. I questioned crown replacement guarantees but on the day of final impressions for my free crown replacement my DDS chose to drill thru the sole of my molar destroying it & any chance of sectioning. My DDS stated he owed me nothing & sealed the infected gap with silver amalgam. My DDS never perscribed any antibiotics stating he didn’t believe in antibiotics. My DDS wrote a letter to my doctor stating I was a hypochondriac wanting antibiotics. Three days after seeing my physician I ended up on life support in septic shock with renal & respiratory failure. All my internal organs relocated outside my body with ileus, intra abdominal abscess & ongoing renal failure. Without repair I would die & no surgeon could make such a huge repair till 2 years later & Dr Soper, Chgo’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The day my DDS intentionally destroyed my molar rather than honor a cheap replacement I requested my file to see another DDS. My DDS refused stating he had to check my molar for infection he never treated. My DDS without a control substance license sedated me without my knowledge or consent & intentionally drilled & severed my molar into 2 pieces. He also destroyed the gum surgery, crown lengthening & everything above the gum. My DDS orally emptied a syringe of a foul smelling liquid. When I asked he responded, “That’s the smell of your stinking rotten crotch.” My DDS also went on to file down my teeth to make me appear I have dentures but don’t have them…toothless. He slapped at the sides of my face calling me “pooch” & “grammaw” “where’s your corncob pipe?” My DDS stated he took back my reconstruction because I didn’t deserve it. He told me my reconstruction “collapsed.”
I was told I got what I deserved for being rude to him but mostly to his staff & for making a fool of him by seeing another DDS…A DDS he called a “piece of shit.”
Can you imagine any DDS so miserable as to destroy a life because of a cheap crown? I am very lucky to be alive.
The new DDS told me to request a properly placed reconstruction. He also told me to sue after my molar was destroyed. He even referred me to attorneys. But I was to sick & it took 2 years to find a surgeon to repair me.
My new DDS said he was in contact with my old DDS. He told me he could reconstruct me for another $30 to $50 thousand dollars. He offered no guarantee I wouldn’t have TMD again.
I continued my 6 month check ups & had to beg for flouride treatments & an RX flouride rinse. I was always told I had no cavities. I was ecstatic! Till a front bridge broke off at the gum from decay. The new DDS wanted $40,000.00 to replace 2 bridges. He never mentioned the mass decay under the rest my reconstruction. When another crown fell & obviously decayed he said it was fine…I’m going to reconstruct you. He told me, “If you are in pain Xmas eve don’t call me.”
Joking or not I knew I had to seek a reputable DDS…a DDS I could count on any day of the year. I found another DDS & intentionally misspelled my name. I had 3 abscesses & mass decay under my reconstruction. The DDS showed me the mass decay with a mirror.
While some DDS’s did nothing some RX’d 2 MRI’s knowing I had no insurance. One had the nerve to charge twice the consult fee after stating he couldn’t give a consultation because he never recieved a “treatment plan.” That DDS examined me while seated on a table with a floor lamp.
I found a great DDS who immediately RX’d an antibiotic. Thank God because I was rapidly losing weight & becoming weak. (My old DDS would’ve called me a whining baby & he did’nt have time to “babysit” me.) My old DDS threw my life away like a piece of garbage sedating patients without a control substance license. Leaving patients to drive home alone under the influence.
I had 3 abscesses. An extracted molar had an abscess attached at the root.
An oral surgeon stated my reconstruction was either improperly prepped or intentionally left decayed under my $30,000.00 reconstruction.
My DDS promised a reconstruction to last till I was 80 years old yet he did everything in his power to prevent doctors & dentists from treating me…from saving my life.
The doctor (also a patient of this DDS) who referred me to this idiotic DDS?…DEAD.
I’m very lucky to be alive & have a beautiful new smile!
What the hell’s going on in DDSTRY?
March 25th, 2010 at 6:13 am
I almost lost my life asking for a free crown replacement guarantee. I ended up on life support over a cheap crown replacement. I’m left permanently disabled. But dont worry, I don’t collect disability.