In spite of your best efforts Post date: 11/07/2014 | Time to read article: 1 mins The information within this article was correct at the time of publishing. Last updated 14/11/2018 () ★ Dental Records Expert Reports Generic Dentistry Periodontics Sometimes no matter how well you care for a patient, things still don’t go as planned... Mrs D attended Dr E as a new patient in 1980 and, during the examination, routine radiographs were taken. Over the next 15 years, Mrs D had four pregnancies, all of which were accompanied by severe bouts of pregnancy gingivitis. Between pregnancies, the dentist took radiographs that displayed the progressive bone loss. Despite referral for specialist periodontal treatment during this period, the lower left second molar was ultimately lost. The patient’s claim of unnecessary loss of a tooth was vigorously defended with a supportive expert report detailing the patient’s long-term management by Dr E, which resulted in the claim being withdrawn. Learning point: While periodontal treatment can be successful in many cases, some others have a disappointing result due to inadequate patient co-operation or other host factors. These case studies are based on real events and provided here as guidance. They do not constitute legal advice but are published to help members better understand how they might deal with certain situations. This is just one of the many benefits dental members enjoy as part of their subscription. For more detailed advice on any issues, contact us Share this article Share Tweet