Aesthetic dental procedures: legal and medico-legal implications
Di Lorenzo Pierpaolo,
Casella Claudia,
Capasso Emanuele,
Delbon Paola,
Fedeli Piergiorgio,
Policino Fabio,
Niola Massimo
Affiliations
Di Lorenzo Pierpaolo
Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples, Section of Legal Medicine Via Sergio Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
Casella Claudia
Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Naples, Italy
Capasso Emanuele
Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Naples, Italy
Delbon Paola
Department of Surgery, Radiology and Public Health, Public Health and Humanities Section, University of Brescia – Centre of Bioethics Research (with the contribution of IRCCS “S.Giovanni di Dio - Fatebenefratelli”), Italy. P.le Spedali Civili, 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy
Fedeli Piergiorgio
Jurisprudence School, University of Camerino, Via A. D’Accorso 16, 62032, Camerino (MC), Italy
Policino Fabio
Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Naples, Italy
Niola Massimo
Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Naples, Italy
Dental treatments, as well as simple anatomical and functional repair work, can also be for aesthetic purposes. This is because the anatomical area concerned, i.e. the oral cavity, has a great power of attraction. Aesthetic treatments in general – in particular dental treatments – have been on the rise in recent years, and this has also meant an increase in claims due to patient dissatisfaction with the results obtained. Numerous laws have been introduced that emphasise the need for comprehensive prior information in order to acquire valid consent. This has resulted in the elimination of the distinction between the obligation of means and obligation of result, with achievement of the normally expected result required in any case.
