Medico-legal aspects of cosmetic dentistry

Abstract

Cosmetic dentistry has undergone enormous change over the last 10 years, with a move away from drilling teeth back in order to place veneers to a move towards techniques to orthodontically align and whiten the front teeth. Whilst this is a positive move, it is important that general dentists providing orthodontic treatment work within their competency. Where claims arise, they are made against individual dentists. Key issues to consider in deciding where there may or may not be a claim would include the following: were all the options given, including the most conservative/least destructive, was the patient given an opportunity to see the expected cosmetic outcome before treatment started, were they adequately informed of all risks, and any necessary compromises to the ideal aesthetic outcome, was there adequate case planning recorded in the notes with all pre-operative photographs and X-rays as necessary, where adverse events occur, would it have been reasonable to expect anything to have been done differently, does the patient have unrealistic expectations of what is achievable? When seeking the advice of a dental expert witness, the appropriate expert may need to have experience in cosmetic, restorative and orthodontic treatment, depending on the case.