Expert Witness Journal Issue 63 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 57
also include treatment of the temporomandibular
joints and bite. This treatment is often wholly
performed by dentists who have inadequate training
in the 昀椀eld of occlusion (bite). Being a Specialist in
Prosthodontics and a Professor of Restorative and
Cosmetic Dentistry gives me an overall view of all the
昀椀elds involved in Restorative, Cosmetic and General
Dentistry which is essential when writing reports and
coming to opinions as to plans and treatments.
observer refer an expert witness to the relevant
professional regulator but litigators themselves can
also sue their own expert for damages if they think
the expert is being negligent. So there is a serious
professional risk. In the latest British Dental Journal,
there was an article on “The GDC – a law unto itself”,
which is well worth reading by the legal profession
and describes exactly why today’s dentist are worried
about being reported to their own regulator (the
GDC).
Dental Education
Dental education has also impacted upon the current
climate. Dental education has changed massively
over the years and I have been involved in it very
closely with my company Tipton Training. We have
trained dentists over the last 20 years both in the
UK and abroad in some of the complex issues of the
newer techniques in Dentistry. Due to government
cutbacks and lack of funding, often some of the newer
graduates are graduating from dental school without
basic knowledge and without having performed
some of the basic dental tasks. This then leads to a
lack of con昀椀dence on the dentist’s part which can be
re昀氀ected in the quality of treatment that is provided.
In general, many of the newer graduates from home
and overseas may be de-skilled in many practical
dental procedures that the experienced dental
practitioner takes for granted.
This is why many experts have now closed their books
or do not take on this type of work anymore especially
the complex negligence work.
Choosing a Dental Expert
The increase in dental litigation combined with the
paucity of dental experts means that 昀椀nding the right
expert for each particular case is incredibly di昀케cult.
This has obviously resulted in a lack of quality experts
for litigants to choose from.
The choice of dental expert should be based on the
understanding and knowledge of their 昀椀eld and
someone who has over 10 years of general dental
practice. Alternatively, dentists who have gone on
to have further education in a particular 昀椀eld, such
as Master’s degrees or Specialists in Periodontics,
Endodontics, Orthodontics, Prosthodontics, General
Dentistry and Implantology, and 昀椀nally to Professors
or Consultants when required for more complex
cases.
Dental Experts
Expert witnesses, however, now operate in a
regulatory and legal environment. It is much more
onerous than it was 10 years ago. Not only can any
participant in the court case or indeed an outside
LOOKING FOR A DENTAL EXPERT
WITNESS FOR A NEGLIGENCE CASE?
Professor Paul Tipton is a Specialist in Prosthodontics and visiting Professor of Restorative and
Cosmetic Dentistry at the City of London Dental School. He has provided post-graduate education to
dentists via his training business,Tipton Training Ltd for over 25 years.
He is Clinical Director of T Clinic, where he practices Dentistry alongside other experts covering the
length and breadth of the UK. He himself has be an expert witness for over 25 years and as such is well
versed in both providing reports dealing with the highest complexities and helping identify negligence
and causation through his screening service.
To find out more about Professor Tipton, his screening service or other experts at T Legal,
please call us on: 07786 327978 or email us at: experts@tlegal.co.uk.
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
55
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2025
