Which term represents the legal responsibility for damages resulting from a breach of duty?

• A. Duty
• B. Liability
• C. Negligence
• D. Misdemeanor

Answer: (B)

Liability is the legal responsibility for damages that arise when a duty of care is breached. In dentistry, clinicians owe patients a standard of care; if that standard isn’t met and harm results, liability means the professional may be required to compensate the patient for those damages. The duty itself is simply the obligation to act correctly, not the consequence. Negligence refers to the failure to meet the standard of care, which can lead to liability, but it describes the breach rather than the responsibility itself. A misdemeanor is a criminal charge and not the civil liability tied to professional breaches.