Professional indemnity insurance for Dentists

Clarke McEwan Accountants



Today's dentists operate in a far more litigious environment than they did in past decades. So it's crucial that your professional indemnity insurance affords you adequate and appropriate cover for your full scope of practice, say experts.

Like all health professionals, dentists now operate in an increasingly litigious environment. Nearly one in 10 dental practitioners will face a lawsuit in their professional lifetime, and one in 20 will be slugged with a regulatory complaint or matter in any given year. So it's crucial that dentists' professional indemnity insurance (PII) covers them for the full scope of their practice and that its limits enable them to mount a proper defense, should they wind up in court or face regulatory action.

Why dentists need PII

According to the Dental Board of Australia, PII refers to a policy or arrangements "that secure for the practitioner's professional practice insurance against civil liability incurred by, or loss arising from, a claim … made as a result of a negligent act, error or omission in the conduct of the practitioner".

"Having PII is a legal requirement, part of your registration," explains Dr Hugo Sachs, Australian Dental Association federal president. "It covers you for the actual procedural events that occur in a dental surgery, so anything from restorative work to tooth removals.

"PII also ensures members of the community that if something untoward occurs in their [dental] treatment, the provider of that service is indemnified, and therefore they will be recompensed."

Craig Hockley, head of marketing at Guild Insurance-the ADA's preferred insurer in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and SA-says having comprehensive PII cover isn't just mandatory; it's a necessity.

"Twelve years ago, around one in 30 dentists experienced the stress of a professional indemnity claim; today, it's closer to one in 10," Hockley says. "Not only has the incidence of claims increased, so has the cost. Without professional indemnity insurance, dentists risk losing their business and personal assets."

Clive Levinthal, CEO of Experien Insurance Services, agent for Australia's largest indemnity insurer, Vero, notes that dentists' need for PII cover has increased with changes in the regulatory environment. "Historically, the main concern for dentists was civil claims, and that's still a high risk. But [as] regulatory bodies have become … easier for consumers to access, regulatory cases have spiked: in 2016-17, these increased by around 30 per cent year on year."

Regulatory cases run the gamut, Levinthal says, from complaints about quality of work done, "say, in putting on veneers, to failing to exercise 'reasonable care and judgement' during a filling or extraction that failed, or the dentist having inadequate skills to do work such as implants or orthodontics" to allegations of poor infection-control measures, inappropriate behaviour and threats to patient safety.

"It could come from anyone-a patient, current or former staff member or the regulators themselves, following an audit of compliance practices or allegations made by a third party," he says.

And even competent, careful dentists can be at risk, cautions Dr Sachs. "No-one's immune-there are some scurrilous claims," he says. "And in general, the more complicated the treatment, the higher the risk. Which is why you have professional indemnity insurance: it's there to help both patient and practitioner."

Registration standard

Under Section 129 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, a registered health practitioner can engage in his or her profession only if "adequate and appropriate" PII arrangements are in force.

"No-one's immune-there are some scurrilous claims. And in general, the more complicated the treatment, the higher the risk. Which is why you have professional indemnity insurance: it's there to help both patient and practitioner."-Dr Hugo Sachs, president, Australian Dental Association

All dental practitioners except those with student or non-practising registration must be covered by PII that meets the minimum terms and conditions outlined in the DBA's Indemnity Insurance Registration Standard.

Whether direct or third-party, your PII cover must include civil liability cover, appropriate retroactive cover; and automatic reinstatement, dictates the DBA.

Civil liability cover pays for any legal expenses you incur defending or settling a civil claim, plus any damages. Retroactive cover means PII arrangements covering you against claims arising from procedures undertaken prior to the start of the policy, while automatic reinstatement means the limit of indemnity (amount insured) is reinstated for new, unrelated claims even after claims have been paid to the indemnity's limit.

If you work under third-party PII that doesn't meet this standard, you'll need to take out additional cover. Ditto if you intend to practise outside the scope of your employer's PII-say, through additional study or volunteer work

Moreover, under the DBA's registration standard, 'practice' isn't restricted to direct clinical care; it includes "using professional knowledge in a direct non-clinical relationship with clients… and [in any roles] that impact on safe, effective delivery of services in the profession".

Practice owners should take out practice entity cover in addition to their individual PII, advises Levinthal. "Though it's not mandatory, it's recommended, especially if they employ other dentists. Because if one of those associate dentists makes a mistake, litigation … can be brought on both the individual treating dentist and the practice that employed that dentist."

The same could apply to an assistant's error, he notes. "So if you're the owner and employ staff, ensure you're covered for mistakes they may make."

Full scope of practice

In line with the National Law, the DBA sets out "broad scope-of-practice requirements for the different types of dental practitioners, rather than specific activities", explains the Board spokesperson. "Practitioners are expected to practise safely and within the limits of their competency, training and expertise.

"In all cases, dental practitioners need to assess whether their PII is adequate, given the area/s of practice they work in, their professional experience, the risks involved in their practice and any previous insurance claims made against them," says the spokesperson.

"All dental practitioners must declare if they meet the Board's standard on PII when they apply to renew their registration. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency audits practitioners at random to ensure they meet … registration standards. Any practitioner who cannot produce evidence demonstrating that they're covered by appropriate PII may have action taken against them."

While most APRA-approved insurers take a 'full scope of practice' approach to PII for dental practitioners, not all policies are equal, asserts Levinthal.

"It's important a practitioner pays close attention to these details as well as any limits of cover the policy may extend."-Craig Hockley, head of marketing,

Guild Insurance

"We don't nitpick and charge additional premiums for general dentists who, say, do implants or orthodontics-our policy covers for everything they're registered to practise," he explains. "There are different premium bands, however. So a part-time dentist can opt to pay less. And while there's no discount for not practising particular treatments, choosing certain excesses lowers your premium."

Hockley notes that while some insurers "dictate the number of hours a week a practitioner can work or limit the number of hours they can spend on specific treatments, Guild's dental PII policy's written in such a way that if the DBA says you're able to do it, you're covered".

That said, loadings are applied to general dentists intending to undertake implants and/or orthodontics, Hockley says, because audits show "there's a greater risk to those two procedures".

For general dentists, taking out a full-scope-of-practice PII policy is a simple way to ensure you're covered in any eventuality, says Dr Sachs. "If you don't, and you're not paying the add-ons-which, for orthodontics and implants, [can] attract a significant loading-you can't legally practise these procedures. And without 'full scope of practice' cover, dentists who've had repetitive misadventures can find their insurer says, 'We'll no longer insure you for that'."

Read the fine print

When weighing up various PII options-and before you sign-read the fine print, experts caution. "It's important a practitioner pays close attention to these details, as well as any limits of cover the policy may extend," says Hockley.

PII providers offer anything from $100,000 to $500,000 for defending regulatory matters, and typically between $10 million and $20 million for civil claims. "It's certainly worth shopping around," Levinthal stresses.

Hockley, however, contends that with PII, price correlates directly with the service you receive. "Just because another insurer's premiums are cheaper doesn't mean it's like for like," he says.

"Nine out of 10 of our customers who've made a claim go on to recommend us to a colleague. While we're close to it, we don't pretend to be the cheapest: we aim to be the best, and to be there when you need us. Dentists pay, on average, $2500 a year-claims can be millions. There's a distinct possibility that if you're not properly covered, you can lose your livelihood."

Failing to note changes to the fine print could also prove costly.

For example, the 2012 amendment applied to many Australian health practitioners' PII policies, excluding from coverage anyone using 'therapeutic goods' not registered under our TGA-designed to discourage dentists from using cheap unregistered imports that could be harmful to patients-entailed an apparently 'minor' alteration to the fine print. Ignoring this crucial amendment could, potentially, have cost a practice or practitioner millions-enough to render them bankrupt, with their professional reputations damaged irreparably.

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Trust Resolutions – Why Timing and Evidence Matter

By Clarke McEwan • October 10, 2025
As the trustee believed the income was classified as interest (this was challenged successfully by the ATO), the trustee assumed that the income would be subject to a final Australian tax at 10%, under the non-resident withholding rules. This was clearly more favourable than having the income taxed in the hands of Australian resident beneficiaries at higher marginal rates. However, the ATO argued that the distribution resolutions were invalid and the Tribunal agreed. Why? The main reason was a lack of evidence to prove that the distribution decisions were made before the end of the relevant financial years. While there were some documents that were purportedly dated and signed “30 June”, the Tribunal wasn’t convinced that the decisions were actually made before year-end and it was more likely that these documents were prepared on a retrospective basis. The evidence suggested the decisions were probably made many months after year-end, once the accountant had finalised the financial statements. The outcome was that default beneficiaries (all Australian residents) were taxed on the income at higher rates. Timing of trust resolution decisions is critical For a trust distribution to be effective for tax purposes, trustees must reach a decision on how income will be allocated by 30 June each year (or sometimes earlier, depending on the trust deed). It might be OK to prepare the formal paperwork later, but those documents must reflect a genuine decision made before year-end. For example, let’s say a trust has a corporate trustee with multiple directors. The directors meet at a particular location on 29 June and make formal decisions about how the income of the trust will be appointed to beneficiaries for that year. Someone keeps handwritten notes of the meeting and the decisions that are made. On 5 July the minutes are typed up and signed. The ATO indicates that this will normally be acceptable, but subject to any specific requirements in the trust deed. If the ATO believes the decision was made after 30 June (or documents were backdated), the resolution can be declared invalid. In that case, you might find that one or more default beneficiaries are taxed on the taxable income of the trust or the trustee is taxed at penalty rates. This could be an unexpected and costly tax outcome and could also lead to other problems in terms of who is really entitled to the cash. Broader lessons – it’s not just about trust distributions The timing issue is not confined just to trust distribution situations. Other areas of the tax system also turn on when a decision or agreement is actually made, not just when it is eventually recorded. For example, if a private company makes a loan to a shareholder in a given year, that loan must be repaid in full or placed under a complying Division 7A loan agreement by the earlier of the due date or lodgement date of the company’s tax return for the year of the loan. If not, a deemed unfranked dividend can be triggered for tax purposes. If a complying loan agreement is put in place then minimum annual repayments normally need to be made to avoid deemed dividends being recognised for tax purposes. A common way to deal with loan repayments is by using a set-off arrangement involving dividends that have been declared by the company. However, in order for the set-off arrangement to be valid there are a number of steps that need to be followed before the relevant deadline. The ATO will typically want to see evidence which proves: · When the dividend was declared; and · When the parties agreed to set-off the dividend against the loan balance. If there isn’t sufficient evidence to prove that these steps were taken by the relevant deadline then you might find that there is a taxable unfranked deemed dividend that needs to be recognised by the borrower in their tax return. Documenting decisions before year-end The key lesson from cases like Goldenville is that documentation shouldn’t be an afterthought — lack of contemporaneous documentation can fundamentally change the tax outcome. What normally matters most is when the relevant decision is actually made, not when the paperwork is drafted. In practice, this often means: · Check relevant deadlines and what needs to occur before that deadline. · If a decision needs to be made before the deadline, ensure that a formal process is followed to do this. For example, determine whether certain individuals need to hold a meeting or whether a circular resolution could be used. · Produce contemporaneous evidence of the fact that the decision has been made. You might consider sending a brief email to your accountant or lawyer explaining the decision that has been made before the relevant deadline , basically providing a time-stamped record of the decision. · Finalise paperwork: formal minutes of meetings can sometimes be prepared after year-end, but they must accurately reflect the earlier decision. Thinking carefully about timing — and building a habit of producing clear evidence of decisions as they are made — is often the difference between a tax planning strategy working as intended and an expensive dispute with the ATO.

Accessing superannuation funds for medical treatment or financial hardship

By Clarke McEwan • October 10, 2025
Superannuation is one of the largest assets for many Australians and offers significant tax advantages, however, strict rules apply to when it can be accessed. While super is most commonly accessed at retirement, death or disability, there are limited situations where earlier access may be possible. Early access is generally available in two situations: · Financial hardship – where you are receiving a qualifying Centrelink/DVA payment for a minimum period and cannot meet immediate living expenses. · Compassionate grounds – Funding for certain specific scenarios which include preventing a mortgage foreclosure or meeting medical expenses for a life-threatening injury or illness or to alleviate severe chronic pain. Compassionate grounds access requires an application to be made to the ATO which needs to be accompanied by relevant medical certificates or mortgage information. If approved the ATO will provide instructions to the individual’s superannuation fund to release an amount to cover the expense. We have included some ATO links with more detailed information on compassionate grounds and financial hardship below. When accessing superannuation under compassionate grounds you would usually collect the relevant supporting documentation and personally make the application for approval using your MyGov account. It has come to the ATO’s attention that there may be medical and dental providers exploiting this access and assisting super fund members to access amounts for cosmetic reasons (you may have even seen advertisements pop up on your social media showing people with a new sparkling smile – and a lower super balance). The ATO’s concerns are discussed in Separating fact from fiction on accessing your super early. Superannuation fund members and SMSF trustees should be aware that there can be substantial penalties applied when super is accessed outside of the legislated conditions of release. You should never provide another party with access to your MyGov login or allow a third party to make applications on your behalf. Penalties may also apply for making false declarations. Should you have any questions or concerns relating to proposed access to your superannuation please reach out to us. Related links Accessing superannuation under compassionate grounds Accessing superannuation due to financial hardship

Government Review of Supermarket Unit Pricing: What It Could Mean for Your Business

By Clarke McEwan • October 10, 2025
Submissions closed just a few weeks later on 19 September 2025, marking the end of a very short opportunity for stakeholders to have their say. A Quick Recap Unit pricing is what allows shoppers to compare costs per standard measure (e.g. $/100g or $/litre) across different pack sizes and brands. Since 2009, large supermarkets have been required to display this information to help customers spot value. While compliance has been relatively low-cost and penalties limited, the Government’s review signals that much tighter rules could be on the way. Why Now? The ACCC’s recent supermarket inquiry highlighted that while unit pricing helps, there are still gaps. The big concern is shrinkflation—when pack sizes quietly reduce while prices remain the same or higher. With cost-of-living pressures dominating headlines, the Government is looking at clearer, fairer pricing to rebuild consumer trust. What Might Change? Proposals considered in the consultation paper include: · Shrinkflation alerts – supermarkets may need to flag when a product becomes smaller without a matching price cut. · Clearer displays – larger, more prominent unit prices both in-store and online. · Wider coverage – expanding the rules beyond major supermarkets to smaller retailers and online sellers. · Standardised measures – eliminating confusing “per roll” vs “per sheet” comparisons. · Civil penalties – introducing fines for non-compliance. The Commercial Impact For suppliers, packaging decisions could come under closer scrutiny. For retailers, costs might arise from updating shelf labels, software, or e-commerce systems. But there are also opportunities: businesses that embrace transparency could build loyalty and stand out in a competitive market. What You Should Do Now that the consultation period has closed, Treasury will consider submissions and the Government is expected to announce its response later this year. Businesses in food, grocery, and household goods should stay alert—the final shape of the rules could affect pricing, packaging, and compliance obligations across the sector. At Clarke McEwan, we can help you model potential compliance costs, assess financial impacts, and prepare for upcoming regulatory change. Reach out to discuss how this review might affect your business.

ATO Interest Charges Are No Longer Deductible – What You Can Do

By Clarke McEwan • October 10, 2025
Leaving debts outstanding with the ATO is now more expensive for many taxpayers. As we explained in the July edition of our newsletter, general interest charge (GIC) and shortfall interest charge (SIC) imposed by the ATO is no longer tax-deductible from 1 July 2025. This applies regardless of whether the underlying tax debt relates to past or future income years. With GIC currently at 11.17%, this is now one of the most expensive forms of finance in the market — and unlike in the past, you won’t get a deduction to offset the cost. For many taxpayers, this makes relying on an ATO payment plan a costly strategy. Refinancing ATO debt Businesses can sometimes refinance tax debts with a bank or other lender. Unlike GIC and SIC amounts, interest on these loans might be deductible for tax purposes, provided the borrowing is connected to business activities. While tax debts will sometimes relate to income tax or CGT liabilities, remember that interest could also be deductible where money is borrowed to pay other tax debts relating to a business, such as: · GST · PAYG instalments · PAYG withholding for employees · FBT However, before taking any action to refinance ATO debt it is important to carefully consider whether you will be able to deduct the interest expenses or not. Individuals If you are an individual with a tax debt, the treatment of interest expenses incurred on a loan used to pay that tax debt really depends on the extent to which the tax debt arose from a business activity: · Sole traders: If you are genuinely carrying on a business, interest on borrowings used to pay tax debts from that business is generally deductible. · Employees or investors: If your tax debt relates to salary, wages, rental income, dividends, or other investment income, the interest is not deductible. Refinancing may still reduce overall interest costs depending on the interest rate on the new loan, but it won’t generate a tax deduction. Example: Sam is a sole trader who runs a café. He borrows $30,000 to pay his tax debt, which arose entirely from his café profits. The interest should be fully deductible. However, if Sam also earns salary or wages from a part-time job and some of his tax debt relates to the employment income, only a portion of the interest on the loan used to pay the tax debt would be deductible. If $20,000 of the tax debt relates to his business and $10,000 relates to employment activities, then only 2/3rds of the interest expenses would be deductible. Companies and trusts If a company or trust borrows to pay its own tax debts (income tax, GST, PAYG withholding, FBT), the interest will usually be deductible if it can be traced back to a debt that arose from carrying on a business. However, if a director or beneficiary borrows money personally to cover those debts, the interest would not normally be deductible to them. Partnerships The position is more complex when it comes to partnership arrangements. If the borrowing is at the partnership level and it relates to a tax debt that arose from a business carried on by the partnership then the interest should normally be deductible. For example, this could include interest on money borrowed to pay business tax obligations such as GST or PAYG withholding amounts. However, the ATO takes the view that if an individual who is a partner in a partnership borrows money personally to pay a tax debt relating to their share of the profits of the partnership, the interest isn’t deductible. The ATO treats this as a personal expense, even if the partnership is carrying on a business activity. Practical takeaway Leaving debts outstanding with the ATO is now more expensive than ever because GIC and SIC are no longer deductible. Refinancing the tax debt with an external lender might provide you with a tax deduction and might also enable you to access lower interest rates. The key is to distinguish between tax debts that relate to a business activity and other tax debts. For mixed situations, you may need to apportion the deduction. If you’re unsure how this applies to you, talk to us before arranging finance. With the right strategy, you can manage tax debts more effectively and avoid costly surprises.

Measuring the health of your business with ratio measures

By Clarke McEwan • October 3, 2025
Business ratios
Cash is King. To work out how fast you can grow your business, you need to look at your cashflow.

Cash is not profit and vice versa

By John Clarke • September 30, 2025
The purpose of a business is to make money, and that means you need to know the difference between profit and cash flow. Net profit is what you have left after you deduct all your business expenses from all your revenue. You can improve net profit only by changing the things that affect revenue and expenses. For example, if: You renegotiate with your suppliers, you may get stock cheaper, or carry less inventory Your staff engage with customers better, you can learn more about what they do and don’t like – and get more business You can roster staff differently, you may be able to run your business more efficiently.  Cash flow comes from various sources. However, it also covers operating expenses, taxes, equipment purchases, repayments, distribution, and so on. Note that a profitable business does not always have good cash flow. And a business with good cash flow is not always profitable. For example, you can have good cash flow, and loss-making expenses. To work out how fast you can grow your business, look at your projected cash flow. We can advise you on this. Keeping cash crowned as King Your business can’t survive without cash. The following six takeaways are essential for business success: Protect your cash position, by knowing what it is. Build a cash flow statement and always keep it up-to-date. If you foresee a shortfall, start at once to fix it. Create a cash buffer as an insurance against unexpected difficulties. Protect your cash position against revenue shocks, by maintaining a balance equivalent to at least two months of operating expenses. Be realistic with revenue expectations. Take action now if it looks like sales are not going to get you to breakeven. Credit checking up front will reduce the risk of customer non-payment. Make sure you follow up with clear payment terms agreed in writing. Communicate regularly with customers and automate where possible. Every dollar you spend reduces cash reserves. The best way to protect your cash is to create a budget for the spend you know you need, and stick to it. Looking to improve cash flow? Make a time to talk to us. We're here to help.
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