Endodontics and litigation: an American perspective.

Dentists can reduce the risk of legal entanglements following endodontic treatment. Dentists should not fail to meet the standard of care required at one or more of the several stages in endodontic treatment: at diagnosis, in record keeping, by accidentally treating the wrong tooth, by not using rubber dam, by breaking endodontic instruments in the root canal, by using inappropriate endodontic implants, by creating root perforations, by failing to give adequate instructions for home care and by not providing emergency care. Recognition of problems likely to rise to litigation and the methods to be used in their avoidance are emphasized.