Aesthetic dental procedures: legal and medico-legal implications

Dental treatments, as well as simple anatomical and functional repair work, can also be for aesthetic pur- poses. 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 intro- duced 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 achieve- ment of the normally expected result required in any case.