Why Louisiana Dental Offices Shouldn't Overlook Commercial Property Insurance

What Is Commercial Property Insurance?

Commercial property insurance helps protect the physical assets your dental office relies on. That includes your building (if you own it), dental equipment, computers, waiting room furniture, X-ray machines, cabinetry, and more. Whether it’s fire, theft, vandalism, or accidental damage like burst pipes or electrical surges, this coverage helps you bounce back.

What’s Typically Covered

Your commercial property policy may cover:

• The physical building, if owned by you

• Dental chairs, tools, and sterilization machines

• Digital imaging equipment and X-ray machines

• Office computers and software systems

• Business personal property (like desks, signage, cabinetry)

• Losses due to fire, lightning, theft, vandalism, burst pipes, or storms

For dental offices that lease space, commercial property insurance still matters. You may be responsible for fixtures, improvements, or the contents inside your suite, even if you don’t own the building.

What Isn’t Typically Covered

While policies vary, most will not cover:

• Flood damage (requires separate policy)

• Earthquake damage (also separate)

• Employee theft (covered by crime insurance)

• Cyberattacks or data loss (covered by cyber liability insurance)

• General liability or patient injuries (handled by general liability or professional liability policies)

That’s why bundling with a Business Owners Policy (BOP) or customizing with additional endorsements can make sense for many practices.

Why It Matters in Louisiana

In Louisiana, dental offices face more risks than you might think:

• Storms and flooding: Rain and windstorms are regular visitors, and even interior damage from storm-related water can cause major disruptions.

• Humidity and plumbing issues: The climate can wreak havoc on pipes and older buildings.

• High-end equipment: Dental gear isn’t cheap. If your digital systems or tools are damaged, it can cost tens of thousands to replace.

If your equipment is damaged and you don’t have property insurance, you’re covering those costs out of pocket—plus you may lose income while you’re shut down.

Common Mistakes Dental Offices Make

Many Louisiana dentists assume their landlord’s building policy covers everything inside. It doesn’t.

Others mistakenly believe their general liability policy covers property loss. It doesn’t.

Or they bought a policy years ago and haven’t updated the coverage to reflect new digital systems, expanded space, or upgraded equipment. That’s risky.

How to Get the Right Property Coverage

If you own or lease a dental office in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Youngsville, Alexandria, New Orleans, or anywhere in Acadiana, here’s what to do:

• Inventory your equipment: Know what you have and what it’s worth.

• Understand your lease: See what you’re responsible for.

• Work with a broker who understands dental practices: That’s us.

At Kastner Insurance, we specialize in helping Louisiana dental offices get the right commercial property coverage—and avoid expensive gaps. We work with multiple providers so you can compare coverage and pricing, and we’ll help you understand what you’re actually buying.

Don’t wait until the next plumbing mishap, power surge, or fire scare to find out your insurance isn’t up to date. Reach out today to get a review or a custom quote for your dental office.