title: Professional dental and oral surgery liability in Italy: a comparative analysis of the insurance products offered to health workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Italy there has been an increase in claims for damages for alleged medical malpractice. A study was therefore conducted that aimed at assessing the content of the coverage of insurance policy contracts offered to oral health professionals by the insurance market.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample analysed composed of 11 insurance policy contracts for professional dental liability offered from 2010 to 2015 by leading insurance companies operating in the Italian market.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The insurance products analysed are structured on the "claims made" clause. No policy contract examined covers the damage due to the failure to acquire consent for dental treatment and, in most cases, damage due to unsatisfactory outcomes of treatment of an aesthetic nature and the failure to respect regulatory obligations on privacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On entering into a professional liability insurance policy contract, the dentist should pay particular attention to the period covered by the guarantee, the risks both covered and excluded, as well as the extent of the limit of liability and any possible fixed/percentage excess.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When choosing a professional liability contract, a dentist should examine the risks in relation to the professional activity carried out before signing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via S. Pansini, 5 - 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Naples, Italy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paternoster
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Naples, Italy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariarosaria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nugnes
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, Naples, Italy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pantaleo
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Naples, Italy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Naples, Italy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niola
keywords: Forensic dentistry; Insurance policy; Malpractice; Professional liability