Malpractice & Risk Basics: Understanding What Triggers Dental Lawsuits and How to Apply Risk Management at the Chairside
Speaker:
Jacqueline Clark
CE Credits:
About the Course
This presentation will focus on the current dental malpractice landscape, and how patients' perceptions of dentistry as a service is contributing to an increase in claims. We will discuss both proactive and reactive de-escalation strategies for responding to problematic patients and complaints. We will discuss proactive de-escalation techniques such as the initial patient appointment and informed consent discussions. We will discuss reactive de-escalation techniques when issues with patients manifest, including managing patient online reviews, requests for refunds, and patient termination.
Educational Objectives
Analyze the current dental malpractice landscape and identify how consumer-driven patient expectations impact liability and claim rates.
Implement proactive de-escalation techniques during initial patient intake and informed consent discussions to align treatment expectations.
Manage negative online patient reviews effectively while maintaining HIPAA compliance and practice reputation.
Evaluate requests for refunds and establish structured protocols to resolve financial disputes securely.
Execute the patient termination process legally and ethically to mitigate abandonment risks.
Your Instructor:
Jacqueline Clark
Jacqueline currently serves as the Lead Dental Risk Consultant for MedPro Group. She is responsible for developing and delivering risk management and patient safety services to MedPro-insured dentists, students/residents, and national dental organizations. Prior to MedPro Group, Jacqueline worked as a medical malpractice litigation attorney in the Detroit-area where she specialized in the defense of hospitals, healthcare facilities, physicians, nurses, and dentists in all stages of the licensing, claims, and litigation processes.
Conflict of Interest:
None reported
The TDA is an ADA CERP provider(May 2024 – June 2028)
ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to ADA CERP at ada.org/cerp.
TENNESSEE DENTAL ASSOCIATION
Nationally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit.
Approval does not imply acceptance by
any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement.
4/1/2026 to 3/31/2029.
Provider ID# 219273