Q. What is ‘adequate and appropriate' indemnity to protect a patient when a dentist undertakes non-surgical cosmetic treatment (NSCT)?

The GDC requires that in the event of treatment falling below an acceptable standard and harm being done to a patient, that the patient is able to be appropriately compensated. Dental Protection offers indemnity for some non-surgical cosmetic treatment within the full-time membership category under certain conditions:

• the member must be a dentist, in a full-time membership category for dentists who graduated at least three years previously (ie. in their fourth or subsequent year following graduation)
• the member must be registered with IHAS and possess the IHAS Quality Assurance Mark
• these procedures carried out in the immediate peri-oral area, nasolabial folds and elsewhere in the face (including the glabella) are all included, but the neck is specifically excluded
• only non-permanent injectable cosmetic procedures carried out by dentists are included. Dental hygienists, therapists and other DCPs are not yet included in the IHAS registration and inspection scheme
• these procedures, plus any other dento-alveolar surgical procedures (such as third molar removal, implant placement) must not collectively occupy more than 500 hours a year (10 hours per week on average). Where they do exceed this threshold, a further subscription category is available at an additional cost which is still less than the rate for the lowest Dental Cosmetic category offered by DPL.

You can find Dental Protection's position statement on cosmetic and adjunctive procedures here