title: [Professional liability claims against dentists].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The frequency and features of malpractice lawsuits against dentists in Chile are not well known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the magnitude and frequency of professional liability claims against dentists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of the Medical Liability Unit of the Legal Medical Service of Chile database. This public organization deals with most professional liability claims in Chile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2007 and 2012, 3,990 expert opinions about liability of health care professionals were requested. Odontology was the fifth specialty most commonly sued and dentists, the second most frequently sued professionals. Sixty nine percent of cases originated in private clinics, which is coincident with a higher frequency of dentists working in private practice. Most petitioners were adult women and most claims originated from surgical interventions and infections. In 35% of claims against dentists, a violation of Lex Artis was confirmed, compared with 9% of all expert opinions that generated in the unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Claims against dentists are more common than previously thought and these professionals should adopt preventive measures to avoid them.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moscoso Matus
authors.forename: Pía
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smok Vásquez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003814:Dentistry, Operative / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003815:Dentists / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult