Our experts

Our experts.


Dentistry is not one discipline. The expert who reports on your claim should come from the field that performed the treatment.

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A multidisciplinary dental expert panel in a postgraduate clinical simulation suite
Discipline-led matchingClinical issue · relevant expertise · verified registration
Relevant clinical disciplineVerified registrationMedico-legal experience

How we match


The discipline follows the clinical issue in the claim.

The relevant standard is that of a reasonably competent practitioner performing the procedure in question.


The expert must therefore come from the field that performed the treatment—not simply the most senior field available. An oral surgeon does not set the standard for a general dental practitioner. A periodontist does not set the standard for a GDP who failed to screen for gum disease.


We consider the treatment, the alleged failure and the questions the report must answer before proposing an expert.

Clinical disciplines


The disciplines on our panel.

Each discipline answers a different clinical question. Select an area to understand its role in medico-legal reporting.

01

Registered dentist

General dental practice

Not a speciality. General dental practitioners provide many dental negligence opinions where the treatment was delivered in primary care.

 02

GDC speciality

Restorative dentistry

Complex restorative care and the relationship between endodontics, periodontics and prosthodontics, including future-care schedules.

 03

GDC speciality

Periodontics

Gum disease, supporting bone loss, periodontal screening, diagnosis and the teeth that competent care may have preserved.

 04

GDC speciality

Endodontics

Root canal diagnosis, treatment and retreatment, where an adverse outcome alone does not establish a breach of duty.

 05

Two disciplines · two regulators

Oral and maxillofacial surgery

Oral surgeons are dentists; oral and maxillofacial surgeons are medically qualified. We match the discipline and registration required by the issue.

 06

Area of practice

Implant dentistry

Implant dentistry is not a recognised speciality. The applicable standard is that of a competent practitioner undertaking the treatment.

 07

GDC speciality

Orthodontics

Case selection, treatment planning, monitoring, retention, root resorption and remote aligner supervision.

08

Area of practice

Forensic odontology

Identification, age estimation and dental injury interpretation. Forensic odontology is an area of practice, not a GDC speciality.

 09

GDC speciality

Paediatric dentistry

Children, the developing dentition, dental trauma and the clinical assessment of alleged dental neglect.


The title “specialist” is used only where an expert is entered on the relevant GDC specialist list. The disciplines shown reflect the expertise available for matching; suitability is confirmed against the individual instruction.

Titles and registration


Experts with the right qualifications

GDC

Dental specialists

Dentists may use a specialist title only where they are entered on the corresponding GDC specialist list.

GMC

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons

These experts are medically qualified doctors. We verify the registration and specialist status relevant to the proposed instruction.

Practice area

Implant and forensic work

Implant dentistry and forensic odontology are areas of practice rather than GDC-recognised specialities, so we do not apply a non-existent specialist title.

Panel assurance


How we vet the panel.

Clinical relevance is only the first check. Registration, current practice and medico-legal capability are reviewed before an expert is introduced.

  1. 01

    Registration confirmed

    We verify GDC registration for dentists and GMC registration for oral and maxillofacial surgeons, together with specialist-list or specialist-register status where applicable.

  2. 02

    Current practice checked

    We review active clinical practice and genuine experience in the discipline relevant to the instruction.

  3. 03

    Medico-legal capability checked

    Expert-witness training and experience of CPR Part 35 reporting are considered as part of the review.

  4. 04

    Sample report reviewed

    A sample is read for structure, reasoning, independence and communication before the expert joins the panel.

Read more about the panel

Before instruction


One claim may require more than one discipline.

A single expert can sometimes address the complete instruction. Where the clinical issues cross disciplinary boundaries, separate opinions may be necessary.


We identify that boundary during scoping and explain where an additional expert may be required before you instruct.

See how to instruct

Frequently asked questions


Choosing the relevant expert.

Practical answers for solicitors scoping a dental expert instruction.

The expert whose discipline matches the clinical issue. We confirm the proposed match when the case is scoped and provide the CV before instruction.

Dentists are registered with the GDC. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are medically qualified and hold GMC registration. We verify registration with the regulator relevant to the discipline.

No. Nor is forensic odontology. Both are areas of practice, and we do not use specialist titles that the GDC does not recognise.

Sometimes. Where the issues cross disciplinary boundaries, more than one expert may be required. We identify that before instruction.

Expert matching


Not sure which expert your case needs?

Tell us the clinical issue and a case manager will provide suitable expert CVs and a fixed quote.


Submit an Enquiry for Expert CVs