https://www.expertwitnessgateway.co.uk/blogs/how-solicitors-instruct-expert-witnesses-in-uk

Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry

Specialty Information Sheet (Condensed Version)

Introduction

Aesthetic and restorative dentistry concerns the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of conditions affecting the teeth, supporting structures, and overall dental appearance. It combines functional restoration with cosmetic outcomes, often involving complex, multidisciplinary care.

Practitioners in this field are typically registered with the General Dental Council and may hold postgraduate qualifications in restorative or aesthetic dentistry. Many have additional experience in prosthodontics, implant dentistry, occlusion, and interdisciplinary treatment planning.

In the context of expert witness work, the overriding duty is to the court in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules Part 35. Experts must provide independent, objective, and unbiased opinion evidence, limited to matters within their expertise.

Typical Case Types

Civil Court (Clinical Negligence)

Experts are most commonly instructed in civil claims involving dental treatment. These may include:

• Alleged failure in diagnosis or treatment planning
• Inappropriate or overly invasive cosmetic procedures
• Complications arising from veneers, crowns, bridges, or implants
• Poor outcomes in tooth whitening or smile design
• Failure to manage tooth wear, occlusion, or parafunctional habits (e.g. bruxism)
• Inadequate consent, particularly in elective aesthetic treatments
• Failures in interdisciplinary planning (e.g. orthodontic-restorative sequencing)

Such cases often require consideration of breach of duty, causation, and condition and prognosis.

Role of the Expert Witness

The expert’s role is to assist the court by interpreting complex dental issues and providing an opinion on whether the standard of care met that expected of a reasonably competent practitioner.

This includes analysis of:

• Treatment planning decisions (e.g. veneers vs composite bonding)
• Suitability for procedures such as implant placement or orthodontics
• Management of conditions such as:
  • Tooth surface loss (attrition, erosion, abrasion)
  • Periodontal disease
  • Occlusal dysfunction
  • Temporomandibular disorders
• Outcomes of treatments including:
  • Veneers and crowns
  • Implant-supported restorations
  • Composite bonding
  • Orthodontic alignment and aesthetic rehabilitation

Experts may also assess whether complications represent recognised risks or substandard care.

Evidence and Reporting

Expert opinion is primarily based on contemporaneous dental and medical records. These typically include:

• Clinical notes and treatment plans
• Radiographs (e.g. bitewings, periapical, CBCT scans)
• Clinical photographs and digital scans
• Study models
• Consent documentation
• Laboratory prescriptions and correspondence
• Referral letters and interdisciplinary communications

Wider medical records (e.g. GP records) may be required where systemic health impacts treatment outcomes.

A compliant expert report will:

• Set out instructions received and materials reviewed
• Provide a clear chronology of events
• Identify relevant clinical findings
• Analyse standard of care (breach)
• Address causation and outcome
• Provide an opinion on prognosis and, where relevant, remedial treatment