Reliable Insurance for Dentists in Arizona

Tailored Insurance for Dental Practices in 2023

From patient care to sensitive record management, alongside common risks such as property damage. That’s where specialized dental business insurance comes into play, helping protect your practice and enabling you to concentrate on exceptional patient care. Business insurance is an indispensable part of your risk management strategy.

Who Requires Dental Professional Liability Insurance?

A wide range of professionals in the dental sector can benefit from this insurance:

• General dentists
• Dental hygienists
• Pedodontists
• Periodontists
• Endodontists
• Oral surgeons
• Orthodontists
• Prosthodontists

Coverage Options for Dental Professionals

Several dental practices choose a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) as their primary small business insurance. This package incorporates three crucial types of coverage: General liability insurance safeguards your practice against claims of bodily injury or property damage, while Commercial property insurance protects your office, equipment, and inventory.

To ensure business continuity, Business income insurance helps compensate for your lost income if your practice needs to close due to covered property damage.

Pricing of Dental Professional Liability Insurance in 2023

The pricing for dental office insurance varies, with factors like location, employee count, and policy details playing a role. On average, BOP customers pay an annual premium of $3,135, or around $261 per month. To get a precise quote for your dental insurance, consider getting a quote..

Fast and Efficient Service

We understand your time is valuable. That’s why we provide an instant online proof of insurance.

Insurance for Dentists – Tailored for Your Needs

Dental office insurance provides you the peace of mind that you are protected from various risks.

What Kind of Insurance Do Dentists Need?

Each dental office has unique needs, so a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t apply to insurance coverage. Your dental team, office operations, and property should all be considered when deciding on your insurance coverage.

Protecting Your Dental Office Team

We understand your employees face a range of risks in the workplace, which can result in injuries. Appropriate insurance can offer them protection.

Workers’ compensation insurance can protect your staff if they sustain work-related injuries or illnesses, with additional benefits such as a needlestick reimbursement program.

Covering Legal Expenses

We offer endorsements to help customize your coverage, including Reimbursement of Legal Expenses that can assist in covering your employees’ legal costs if they need to appear before a court or review board.

Securing Your Dental Office Operations

Running a dental office is no small task, and any disruption can impact your success. That’s why it’s important to have insurance to protect against unexpected events.

Business income insurance, for instance, can help cover your losses if a contamination incident forces your practice to close. Similarly, employment practices liability insurance protects your business against lawsuits by employees or independent contractors.

Guarding Your Dental Office Property

It’s essential to safeguard the property critical to your dental office operations, including equipment, sensitive patient information, and record storage systems.

Insurance options such as valuable papers and records coverage can assist if your patients’ files get lost or damaged, while commercial property insurance helps with repair costs for physical damage. Business income coverage can replace your office’s lost income if it cannot operate while repairs are made.

Dental Professional Liability and Malpractice Insurance

Professional Liability Insurance, sometimes called malpractice insurance or errors and omissions insurance, covers licensed healthcare professionals from claims that their negligent acts during the performance of their professional duties caused harm.  Policies may vary in coverage and premium.  Some companies offer discounts if you meet certain qualifications.  It is important to review the coverages provided and the policy exclusions before selecting an insurance company.

A dental malpractice insurance policy can be written on a claims-made or occurrence basis.  Each has its advantages.  For more  information about the differences, please read our article, “Claims-made or Occurrence?”

What coverage does a dental malpractice insurance policy provide?                                      

While policy specifics can vary, a typical policy will provide coverage for damages and defense in connection with covered claims.   A policy can be written on a claims-made or occurrence basis.  Some of the coverages available include:

• • • • Professional Liability
      • General Liability
      • License Protection
      • Employment Practice Liability
      • Employee Benefits Liability
      • Medical Waste
      • Billing Errors and Omissions
      • Corporate Identity Protection / Cyber Liability.

Desert Mountain Insurance can contact multiple carriers and will review your options with you so you understand your policy choices and can make an informed decision.  Call us for more information or complete our questionnaire for a free dental policy quote!

What Kinds of Disputes Can Lead to Dental Malpractice Claims?

Dental malpractice claims make allegations about the quality of work received by a patient. It’s important to realize that some claims (sometimes referred to as “frivolous claims”) have absolutely little to do with the work provided.  There may not have been a mistake made or a standard of care violated to be sued for malpractice.  Defending a false claim is still expensive.  It’s important to be aware of some of the common malpractice claims made against dentists. These include:

• • • Failure to give a patient all the information she needs.   A patient could claim that you didn’t fully describe all possible treatment options and associated risks,  meaning the patient wasn’t able to make an informed decision about their dental care.

• • • Failed treatments or procedures. This could include claims of tooth damage or injury from botched restorations, root canals, implants, veneers, crowns, and more. Patients can also claim that you failed to spot decay or another problem during a routine oral exam, which led to greater, more expensive problems.

• • • Questionable professional advice.  Claims that you failed to provide solid professional counsel or that you failed to refer the patient to a specialist when it was necessary.

• • • Products liability. Dentists can be blamed for using faulty products, oral devices, and materials – regardless of whether the dentist manufactured the items.

• • • Nerve damage.  A claim could allege that a lingual nerve or inferior alveolar nerve was damaged while the patient was given anesthesia or having teeth removed.

• • • Misdiagnosis. Patients can claim that you failed to diagnose a condition, that your diagnosis was incorrect, or that you diagnosed it late.

Dental malpractice policies vary so it is important to review the coverages provided and policy exclusions prior to selecting an insurance company. Your best resource for dental malpractice insurance is a knowledgeable agent who does not charge fees for their service.   Desert Mountain Insurance is a no-fee, no-obligation agency.  As an independent agency, we can gather information and quotes from multiple carriers to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about your coverage.  Call us with questions regarding insurance protection for your practice or complete the form for a free quote!