Which of the following is NOT a type of unintentional tort?

• A. Negligence
• B. Malpractice
• C. Assault
• D. Battery

Answer: (C)

Unintentional torts come from carelessness rather than deliberate wrongdoing. Negligence covers harm that results from failing to meet the standard of care a reasonably prudent professional would provide, and malpractice is the professional version of that negligence in dentistry. Both involve harming someone without intending the harm.

Assault and battery, by contrast, are intentional torts. Assault is about intending to cause the person to fear imminent harmful or offensive contact, while battery involves intentional touching that is harmful or offensive. Because intent is central to these harms, they are not unintentional torts.

In dental practice terms, a mistake or failure to meet the standard of care would be negligence or malpractice, not assault. Assault would involve a deliberate act that makes a patient fear an imminent attack, which is not about careless care. Therefore, the one that is not an unintentional tort is assault.