Is a dentist in Malta held to the same standard of care as a medical doctor?

Dentists in Malta, referred to under Maltese law as dental surgeons, are registered and regulated professionals falling within the scope of the Health Care Professions Act, Chapter 464 of the Laws of Malta, and are subject to oversight by the Medical Council in a manner broadly parallel to medical doctors, meaning dental surgeons are held to a genuine professional standard of care, and the same fundamental legal principles under Article 1031 and 1032 of the Civil Code, Chapter 16 of the Laws of Malta, regarding liability for professional negligence would generally apply to dental treatment just as they would to broader medical treatment, with the applicable standard being what a reasonably competent dental practitioner would have done in the same circumstances. This means that if you believe your dental treatment fell below the standard reasonably expected of a competent dental surgeon, and this caused you genuine harm, you would generally have similar avenues available to you as with any other medical negligence matter, including the option of raising a formal complaint with the Medical Council regarding the dentist's professional conduct, and separately, potentially pursuing a civil claim for damages if your specific circumstances support this. Given the specialised nature of dental treatment and the technical dental expertise typically needed to properly assess whether the standard of care was actually breached in your specific situation, it would be important to consult a lawyer experienced in medical and dental negligence claims to properly evaluate your case.