Malpractice in Dental Anesthesiology

Cases invovlving dental anesthesia reveal that breaches of the duty to use proper skill and care have occurred in selection of the type of anesthetic, method of administration, failure to examine the patient, use of unsterile instruments, failure to use safety devices, and failure to properly care for patients under the influence of anesthesia. Persons practicing dental anesthesiology, like those pracing medicine and surgery, must be duly able and careful. This rule is elementary and is founded on considerations of public policy. Whenever the behavior of a dentist or dental anesthesiologist has been of a nature such that a dereliction of these requisites is evinced, an action in malpractice may lie.