Gum disease compensation

The Dental Defence Union (DDU), which indemnifies dental professionals and pays compensation on their behalf, issued the warning as it revealed it had paid out £2.8m in compensation and a similar amount in legal fees to settle 126 claims over the five years 2008-2012.

The DDU said the average cost of a compensation claim had also risen over the period from around £21k in 2008 to £31k in 2012, an increase of nearly 50 per cent. The largest damages payment made was £170k for failing to diagnose and treat periodontal disease, which was a common allegation among the settled cases. In this case a significant portion of the compensation was for loss of earnings as the patient was unable to pursue their chosen career.

The figures were published in an analysis by DDU dento-legal adviser, Leo Briggs, in the latest edition of the DDU Journal. Leo commented:

“Periodontal disease is widespread and as much a threat to patients’ oral health as tooth decay. Around 45 per cent of adults with teeth in England, Wales and Northern Ireland show signs of gum disease and if untreated, it can eventually lead to tooth loss.