Professional Liability Insurance for Dental Hygienists

Professional liability is the responsibility to protect your patients from harm and negligence. Professional liability insurance is the safety net used to protect medical and dental professionals in the event of a malpractice claim.

Defined as “a dereliction of professional duty or failure to exercise an ordinary degree of professional skill or learning by one rendering professional services which results in injury, loss, or damage,” a malpractice claim can be financially crippling, as well as tarnishing the reputation and future you’ve worked so hard to build. 

According to the National Practitioner Data Bank, a total of 32,488 malpractice claims were levied against dentists in the decade between 2007 and 2017. That same period also included 4,491 claims against dental hygienists and assistants. The average settlement cost for those was estimated at $68,000, which doesn’t take into account defense costs, which can sometimes be greater than the settlement itself.

The monetary value of malpractice claims against dental hygienists is on the rise, increasing the need to ensure you have all the adequate coverage necessary. 

With an increasing number of dental hygienists being named in dental malpractice suits, it’s more important than ever to ensure you have the right coverage necessary to protect yourself from a lawsuit. 

Check out the resource links below to learn how a personal professional liability policy from Pharmacists Mutual can cover the gaps in your employer’s malpractice insurance that leave your career exposed.

Are you ready to safeguard the investment you’ve made in your career? Click the link below to apply for our individual dental hygienist liability insurance. For more information, contact our team below or find a local field agent in your area.