This year's Young Dentist Conference took place on 14 February in London, hosted by Dental Protection in conjunction with the British Dental Association (BDA) and the British Dental Journal (BDJ).

Dr Raj Rattan, senior dento-legal consultant at Dental Protection, told over 200 delegates that failing to obtain patient consent before commencing treatment is one of the top risks for young dentists that can lead to litigation.

The other top risks that can cause legal problems for young dentists are:

  • A failure to take into account what is and what is not available on the NHS

  • Working beyond competence.

Dr Rattan said: 'It is vital that young dentists have an awareness of the factors that contribute to sub-optimal care. By controlling these factors, new clinicians can help to provide the best care to their patients and prevent potential complaints and claims.'