Risk management in clinical practice. Part 7. Dento-legal aspects of orthodontic practice

Orthodontic treatment, like any aspect of general dentistry, exposes the clinician to the risk of malpractice and litigation. While for orthodontists this issue has not been a major concern over the last century, risk management has, over the last decade, become a significant issue in orthodontic practice. The patient-orthodontist contact may be classified into pre-treatment, active treatment and post-treatment periods. Risk management issues pertinent to each time period are discussed in this article with the intention of increasing the clinician's awareness of potential problems. Armed with this knowledge the overriding message for the clinician is to practise orthodontics with the philosophy of prevention and avoidance. To the best of your ability, avoid giving patients a reason to institute legal proceedings.