In rare instances, patients of healthcare professionals and other dental professionals receive negligent care, which causes a significant amount of damages that may warrant filing suit. For these reasons, dentists, dental nurses, and dental students have been strongly encouraged to purchase malpractice insurance. While some employers offer this type of coverage, it is limited in some cases to the actual dentist. That is why some dental nurses and assistants choose to purchase their own malpractice/liability insurance privately.