An Overview of Other Expert Witnesses
Here is a brief list of other experts who I might consult when preparing to provide case analyses or second opinions in a dental malpractice suit. I’ve also included a short description of what each of these specialists does.Anesthesiologists
Anesthesiologists are physicians or dentists who specialize in controlling pain and levels of consciousness in patients—typically via local anesthesia, oral medication, IV sedation, general anesthesia or combinations of these agents.Dermatologists and Oral Pathologists
Dermatologists are medical doctors who specialize in treating conditions affecting the skin, mucous membranes, nails, and hair. Oral Pathologists are dentists with advanced postgraduate training in diagnosing and treating diseases of the soft and hard tissues of the oral and maxillofacial structures. Their perspectives can be useful in evaluating oral issues and conditions that reflect systemic conditions and/or affect other parts of the body.Dental Manufacturing & Quality Assurance Experts
Various materials experts (often engineers) provide quality assurance for dental technology companies. In cases where a dental instrument, material or product may have adversely affected a patient, dental expert witnesses might seek such experts out to help determine whether causation or liability belongs to the dentist that used the instrument, material or product or the manufacturer that made it.Immunologists
Immunologists (also frequently referred to as allergists) are medical doctors who specialize in treating allergies, immunologic disorders, and asthma. Due to the materials and chemicals dental patients may come in contact with, an immunologist can provide critical information in malpractice suits that involve a patient who has suffered an allergic reaction.Metallurgists and Dental Material Researchers
Metallurgists and dental material researchers are typically engineers who oversee the development and transformation of various materials into useful restorative products and instruments. Since various precious and non-precious metals, and composite, plastic and ceramic/porcelain materials are used in the fabrication of dental restorations and prosthesis (such as crowns) as well as dental instruments, the perspective of a metallurgist and materials experts can be valuable when attempting to determine whether a patient has had an adverse reaction to coming in contact with themPharmacologists
Pharmacologists are chemists or biologists who study pharmaceutical drugs and other substances to better understand their effects on organic life—typically with the goal of improving their efficacy for treating physiological and psychological conditions. Since dentists often prescribe pharmaceutical products to their patients for various reasons, a pharmacologist can offer information that can help dental expert witnesses offer an opinion on liability when a malpractice suit involves an adverse reaction to these medications.Via Pexels