William S. Spiegel and Marc R. Leffler, DDS[email protected]X-RayLegal Case: When the end of a lawsuit does not end the problemIn their latest Legal Cases column, William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc Leffler present a case in which a patient sued a dentist and also filed a complaint with the state dental board. Learn about the role a radiograph played in the case, how both the legal and disciplinary actions were resolved, and what you can do to help your practice avoid a similar situation.March 10, 2019Dental PracticeLegal Cases: Disruptive patient and incomplete restorative workIn their latest Legal Cases column, William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc Leffler present a case in which a patient became disruptive and had to be removed from the dental office by the police after incomplete restorative work. Read on to learn how the case was resolved and what you can do to help your practice.December 4, 2018Dental PracticeLegal Cases: Seizure-like event in dental chair followed by deathIn their latest Legal Cases column, William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc Leffler present a case in which a patient having two teeth extracted had a seizure in the chair and later died. Complicating matters was that the treating dentist had received his license only a week earlier. Read on to learn how the case was resolved and what you can do to help your practice.July 4, 2018X-RayLegal Cases: Implant placement into the maxillary sinusA group practice's dentists proposed a treatment plan of three implants for a 60-year-old man with missing teeth. However, after the implants were placed, an x-ray showed one of the implants projected beyond the bony floor of the patient's sinuses. As William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc Leffler write, sometimes there is a difference between acceptable clinical practice and what a jury may see.March 13, 2018Dental PracticeLegal Cases: Failure to diagnose squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior mandibular regionA 45-year-old law-enforcement officer presented to an oral surgeon when his general dentist found a white lesion near a recent lower incisor extraction. As William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc R. Leffler discuss in their latest Legal Cases column, this patient's treatment and case are a reminder that chart entries are crucial to patient care and for legal documentation.December 3, 2017Orofacial PainLegal Cases: Claimed nerve injury and trismus after mandibular blockA patient returns to your office just days after you performed a mandibular block. You refer the patient to an oral surgeon, then don't hear from the patient again. Until three months later and you are being served. In their latest Legal Cases series, William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc R. Leffler document how they handled this case for their client and what you can do to try to prevent it from happening.June 11, 2017Dental PracticeLegal Cases: Mandibular fracture after implant placementYou use a health history form with every patient. You discuss this form and their health with them and receive their agreement, But, as William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc R. Leffler write in their latest Legal Cases series, it is impossible to get every condition onto a form. Learn what happened to a new-to-practice prosthodontist who placed implants in a 68-year-old patient.April 3, 2017Dental PracticeLegal Cases: 24 fillings on virgin teethA 23-year-old woman presented to a general dentist for a routine exam with no radiographic evidence of decay. Yet on clinical examination, the dentist found that his explorer stuck on the occlusal surfaces of the patient's posterior teeth and recommended treatment. As William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc R. Leffler write in their latest Legal Cases series, finding a way to document justification for clinical treatment is crucial.February 9, 2017Dental PracticeLegal Cases: Placement of implants projecting into the maxillary sinusA 61-year-old man presented to a large group practice where a prosthodontist proposed a treatment plan of four implants. As William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc R. Leffler document in their latest Legal Cases series, having a plan of action isn't enough -- it has to be written in the patient's chart.October 23, 2016RestorationsLegal Cases: TMJ dysfunction following crown and bridge workA 63-year-old man with many fillings, previous endodontic treatment, and three-unit bridges presented to his dentist with headaches, tight jaw muscles, and teeth grinding. As William S. Spiegel and Dr. Marc R. Leffler document, sometimes practicing to the dentist's ability is the best course of action for all involved.August 15, 2016Page 1 of 2Next PageTop StoriesLegal IssuesMan arraigned for unlicensed dentistryA 53-year-old man was arraigned on April 19 for allegedly practicing dentistry without license at a business office.Legal IssuesTheft of $32K-plus worth of dental ovens stumps authoritiesBrainGum disease, invasive dental care linked to young onset strokeEndodonticsSimple test may assess pulp status of avulsed teethSponsor ContentAvailable On Demand
