Title Medico-Legal Preparedness in Dental Education: Training Gaps, Defensive Practice and Curriculum Implications Among Romanian Dental Students and Dentists

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Medico-legal preparedness is relevant throughout dental education because awareness develops before independent clinical responsibility is assumed. This study examined malpractice awareness, self-perceived preparedness, legal awareness and defensive-practice tendencies among Romanian dental students, residents and dentists. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May and June 2026 among 176 participants from the Faculty of Dentistry and its associated professional community in Craiova, Romania. The author-developed questionnaire was completed online (n = 134) or on paper at a professional conference (n = 42). Associations were assessed using non-parametric tests, ordinal logistic regression and robust linear regression. A sensitivity analysis excluded early-year students. Results: Respondents demonstrated moderate legal awareness (mean 3.29 of 5), whilst only 8.0% felt well or very well prepared to manage a malpractice-related situation. In the main model, previous legal training was associated with greater preparedness (adjusted odds ratio 2.52, 95% CI 1.03–6.15), as were resident status and professional clinical experience. In the clinically exposed subgroup (n = 68), practising dentists reported greater preparedness than clinical-year students, whereas familiarity with malpractice and paper-based participation were associated with stronger defensive-practice tendencies. Conclusions: Awareness of medico-legal issues is present across dental education, but perceived preparedness remains limited. The findings support longitudinal, applied medico-legal education and require cautious interpretation because early-year and clinically experienced respondents evaluated partly different aspects of the same phenomenon.