Dental malpractice refers to a situation where a dental professional fails to provide the standard of care expected in the dental practice, resulting in harm or injury to a patient. This may include negligence in diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up care that deviates from accepted dental practices, such as improper procedures, failure to obtain informed consent, misdiagnoses, or inadequate sterilization techniques. Patients may seek legal recourse if they can prove that the dentist’s actions directly caused their injury or damage, leading to physical pain, financial loss, or emotional distress. Cases of dental malpractice can involve various claims, including wrongful extraction, improper use of anesthesia, or failure to diagnose conditions such as oral cancers.
An unlicensed dental assistant in Fukuoka Prefecture conducted unauthorized dental procedures under the supervision of the clinic's chief dentist. Originally hired as a secretary in 2006, her role expanded into…