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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.