DDU report highlights rise in claims for root canal treatment

The Dental Defence Union (DDU) has highlighted an increase in endodontic claims, warning dentists to avoid performing procedures that are beyond their technical capabilities.

Over a ten-year period up to 2014, root canal treatment featured in more than 1,400 claims notified by DDU members – nearly one-quarter of the overall total. Moreover, it was shown that there were 42 percent more claims in the second five years than the first.

As such, the DDU has cautioned dentists to recognise their technical limits when considering performing root canal treatment, and to be prepared to refer patients if necessary. Although the success rate for the process is 90 percent if carried out to a good standard, it remains a significant cause of complaints.

The most common allegations in the claims analysed were that the treatment was unsatisfactory, inadequate or failed completely, leading to the patient having to have their tooth extracted.

Such claims were also unusually hard to defend successfully, with 62 percent of claims settled, compared to nearly half of claims for other types of treatment.

Eric Easson, DDU dento-legal adviser and author of the DDU's endodontic claims analysis, said: "It's vital that dentists know their limitations and are prepared to refer patients to a specialist if this is in their best interests."