Professional Liability Insurance

Dental malpractice insurance covers claims related to professional services you provide as a dentist. This includes allegations of negligence, treatment errors, misdiagnosis, improper procedures, and failure to obtain informed consent. Policies also typically cover legal defense costs, court-awarded damages, settlements, administrative hearings, and dental board investigations. Many carriers offer added protections such as HIPAA violation coverage and “good Samaritan” acts that occur outside your practice setting.

However, malpractice insurance does not cover everything. It does not protect against criminal acts, sexual misconduct, intentional wrongdoing, billing fraud, or disputes related to employment practices. It also doesn’t cover business-related risks like property damage, workers’ compensation, or cyber incidents — these require separate policies. Understanding the boundaries of your coverage ensures there are no surprises when a claim arises, and our team helps clarify these exclusions during the policy selection process.

An occurrence policy covers any incident that happens during the policy period — no matter when the claim is filed. Even if a patient files a lawsuit years after treatment, you remain covered as long as the event occurred while your occurrence policy was active. This structure provides long-term peace of mind and eliminates the need for tail coverage when switching carriers or retiring, though premiums are typically higher.

A claims-made policy only covers claims that are filed while the policy is active, making it essential to maintain continuous coverage. When a claims-made policy ends — due to retirement, relocation, or changing insurers — you must purchase tail coverage to protect yourself from future claims tied to past treatments. While claims-made insurance is often more affordable early on, it’s crucial to plan for tail coverage costs later in your career. We help dentists choose the structure that best fits their long-term professional and financial plans.

In many cases, yes. While some group practices and DSOs provide malpractice coverage, the policy may not be written specifically for your individual protection. Employer policies often share limits across multiple providers, meaning one large claim could reduce the coverage available for others. In addition, employer-controlled coverage may not include a true own-occupation definition, adequate liability limits, or protection during employment gaps or transitions.

Owning your own policy ensures continuous, portable, and personalized protection throughout your career. It follows you from one employer to the next, and you control the policy terms — including limits, defense provisions, and tail options. For most dentists, an individual policy is the best way to prevent coverage gaps and maintain long-term security, regardless of their practice setting.

Entity malpractice coverage protects the dental practice itself — not just the individual dentist — when a lawsuit targets the business. Claims increasingly name both the provider and the practice as defendants, even when the allegations relate solely to clinical care. Without entity coverage, your business assets could be exposed, from bank accounts to equipment and future revenue. This coverage is especially important for group practices, multi-provider offices, or any practice that employs hygienists or associates.

Additionally, entity coverage helps ensure the practice can respond financially to legal demands without jeopardizing operations. It provides defense counsel for the business, covers settlements or judgments tied to practice-level liability, and helps insulate the clinic from reputational harm associated with lawsuits. For owners, entity coverage is a critical safeguard that complements individual malpractice policies and helps ensure long-term business continuity.

For dentists with occurrence policies, your coverage remains intact even after you stop practicing — since the policy covers any incident that occurred during the active period, regardless of when the claim is filed. For those with claims-made coverage, you’ll typically need to purchase tail coverage to protect against future claims tied to past patient encounters. Tail coverage creates a “bridge” of protection long after you’ve retired, moved states, or taken a leave of absence.

If you’re relocating or changing employers, maintaining continuous coverage is essential to preventing gaps. Many carriers also offer special extended reporting endorsements for retirement, disability, or death, which can sometimes be free if you’ve been with a carrier for a certain number of years. We help dentists navigate these transitions, ensuring your malpractice protection remains seamless as your career and life circumstances evolve.