What is a quasi contract?

• A. A contract that is formed by explicit written terms
• B. A contract formed by oral agreement only
• C. A contract recognized by law to prevent injustice, even if no contract exists
• D. A contract that requires a sign and notary

Answer: (C)

A quasi contract is a legal remedy created by courts to prevent unjust enrichment when one party benefits at another’s expense in the absence of a real agreement. It isn’t based on mutual consent or a binding contract; instead, the law imposes an obligation to pay or return value to ensure fairness. The remedy aims to restore the party that did the beneficial act or provided services to a reasonable value—often described as restitution or quantum meruit—even though no formal contract exists.

This concept matters in dentistry when, for example, emergency care is provided to a patient who cannot consent or when a patient benefits from services without an actual agreement. In such situations, the law can require payment of reasonable value to prevent the clinician from being unjustly enriched.

The other options describe contracts formed by explicit written terms, oral agreement, or formal instruments requiring a sign and notary. Those are types of actual contracts or formalities, not legal remedies created to prevent unjust enrichment in the absence of a contract.