Defensive Dentistry in the Context of Medical Malpractice
1 Department of Professional Legislation in Dental Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
2 Research Centre in Dental Medicine Using Conventional and Alternative Technologies, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
3 Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Emergencies in Dental Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
4 Interdisciplinary Research Canter for Dental Medical Research, Lasers, and Innovative Technologies, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 16 Sep 2025 / Accepted: 8 Jan 2026 / Published: 16 Apr 2026
Abstract
Background: In the current context, characterized by a significant increase in patient demands and in the risk of malpractice in dentistry, the study of defensive dentistry proves to be of particular importance, being motivated by the need to understand the impact of defensive practices on the dentist–patient relationship and on the quality of the medical act as a whole. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of defensive dentistry on the professional relationship between the dentist and the patient in an attempt to identify and describe the main defensive practices adopted in the context of the risk of malpractice, and to evaluate the impact of these practices. Materials and Methods: The research instrument developed consists of a questionnaire distributed to dentists through the Google Forms platform, being structured in four sections, totaling 16 questions. The first section of the questionnaire includes demographic and professional data of the study participants, the second section covers legal knowledge and experiences, the third section refers to defensive practices, while the last section evaluates the impact on the dentist–patient relationship. Results and Discussions: The results confirm the achievement of the proposed objectives, with most respondents stating that they have varying degrees of legal knowledge, which suggests the existence of a general, but not necessarily in-depth, information base regarding malpractice legislation. At the same time, almost half of the participants admit to applying—frequently or occasionally—some practices associated with defensive dentistry, although a significant part declares that they are not familiar with the concept. This fact confirms the hypothesis that defensive dentistry is often practiced unconsciously, as a mechanism of professional self-protection. Conclusions: The present study represents a valuable contribution to understanding the phenomenon of defensive dentistry and its implications in dental practice in the context of malpractice.
Keywords: defensive dentistry; medical malpractice; medical professional error; legislation
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CITE
Doina, T.A.; Emanuela, B.D.; Raluca, C.M. Defensive Dentistry in the Context of Medical Malpractice. JEPT 2026, 3, 4.
Doina TA, Emanuela BD, Raluca CM. Defensive Dentistry in the Context of Medical Malpractice. JEPT. 2026; 3(1):4.
Doina, Tănase Alina; Emanuela, Bojoga Daliana; Raluca, Cosoroabă Mioara. 2026. "Defensive Dentistry in the Context of Medical Malpractice." JEPT 3, no. 1: 4.
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