Treatment injuries in dentistry – cases from one year in the Swedish Patient Insurance Scheme

Abstract

Eight hundred and fifty-one claims submitted to the Swedish Patient Insurance Scheme were studied and analysed. The most frequent claim referred to root fractures of roots with posts, and to root perforations also related to root posts. Other relatively frequent claims referred to pulpal complications in connection with fixed prosthodontics, root perforations related to endodontic treatment, and dysaesthesia. The mean latency time (the time from the actual treatment to the diagnosis of the injury) was for root fractures 10.6 months, and the mean latency time for root perforations that were not directly observed during preparation was 15.9 months. Pulpal complications of teeth treated with crowns or fixed partial dentures had a mean latency time of 7.6 months. Injuries with a low frequency were, for example, fracture of vital abutments for crowns or fixed partial dentures, damage to tissue by electrosurgery or to the floor of the mouth by drilling, or perforations to the antrum. Two cases of particles dropped into the patient's eye were also reported.