LAWFUEL – Open wide — that’s what Winthrop & Weinstine hopes the mark…

LAWFUEL – Open wide — that’s what Winthrop & Weinstine hopes the market will be like for its new dental law practice, The Minneapolis St Paul Business Journal Reports.

The niche practice, which focuses on defending dentists in insurance audits and at regulatory hearings before the Minnesota Board of Dentistry (MBD), was officially launched this month by the Minneapolis firm.

The two attorneys running it, David Aafedt and Tiffany Blofield, have been representing dentists for a few years. During that time, they say, the market’s grown considerably.

Complaints filed against dental health professionals with the dentistry board have risen 45 percent over the past five years, and Aefedt said the volume of insurance audits also appears to have increased. With only a handful of local attorneys specializing in this area, demand is high.

There were 301 complaints filed at MBD against dental professionals last year, about 90 percent of which were against dentists. The complaints range from beefs about false advertising to allegations of sexual misconduct. Sixteen complaints resulted in disciplinary actions, the consequences of which could include license suspension or termination, limitations on what procedures a dentist can perform, or any action the board deems is necessary to make the problem stop, said MBD Executive Director Marshall Shragg.

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