Abstract
Dental litigation has a key role for the autonomy of the dental profession. We conducted a study among legal dental expert witnesses in order to reflect the present situation and reveal the potential for professional development. A questionnaire was distributed among 161 participants of the Karlsruhe training for legal dental experts between 2004 and 2009. They were asked to describe and to reflect on the present situation of dental litigation in Germany. 83 questionnaires were returned (51.6%). The main reason to become a legal dental expert was to "support the profession". 68 participants (85.0%) think that civil action resulting from dental treatment will become more frequent. The quality of dental expert opinions is considered to be in need of improvement. Strategies to optimise dental expert opinions and to deal with the potential growing number of claims are developed. Basic and advanced training for dental expert witnesses assures the quality of dental expert opinions and also provides a chance for the further development of the dental profession.
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