Dental treatment injuries in the Finnish Patient Insurance Centre in 2000-2011.
Objective The Patient Insurance Centre in Finland reimburses patients who sustained injuries associated with medical and dental care without having to demonstrate malpractice. The aim was to analyse all dental injuries claimed through the Patient Insurance Centre over a 12-year period in order to identify factors affecting reimbursement of claims. Methods This study investigated all dental patient insurance claims in Finland during 2000-2011. The injury cases were grouped as (K00-K08) according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Calendar year, claimant's age and gender, dental disease group and health service sector were the explanatory factors and the outcome was the decision of a claim. Multiple logistic regression modelling was used in the statistical analyses. Results The total number of decisions related to dental claims at the PIC in 2000-2011 was 7662, of which women claimed a clear majority (72%). Diseases of the pulp and periapical tissues (K04) and dental caries (K02) were the major disease groups (both 29%). Of the claims 40% were eligible for reimbursement, 27% were classified as insignificant or unavoidable injuries and 32% were rejected for other reasons. The proportion of reimbursed claims declined during the period. Patients from the private sector were more likely to be eligible for compensation than were those from the public sector (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.71-2.10). Conclusions The number of dental patient insurance claims in Finland clearly rose, while the proportion of reimbursed claims declined. More claims received compensation in the private sector than in the public sector.
['Karhunen|Sini|S|', 'Virtanen|Jorma I|JI|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D003729:Dental Care D003731:Dental Caries D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases D005260:Female D005387:Finland D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting D007347:Insurance, Dental D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010483:Periapical Diseases D017149:Private Sector D017150:Public Sector D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms D012737:Sex Factors D016388:Tooth Loss D055815:Young Adult
treatment injury patients insurance Dental claims