When you have dental work done, you have the right to expect that you will not suffer unnecessarily because of it. If you do have a problem – and it is one that you believe is the fault of the dental professional that did the work, and it is having a negative effect on your life, there is a chance that you might be able to make a dental claim.
If you feel that you might be able to make a dental claim, you should discuss your case with a solicitor to find out where you stand. Most dental claims are made on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis, meaning that you would not have to pay anything if you were unsuccessful. If your case is successful, the most Waldrons Solicitors can recover is 25% of any compensation you receive.
How long does a dental claim take?
Making a dental negligence claim can be a relatively straightforward process. The amount of time that it takes depends on several different factors. These include:
- The severity of the dental injuries and how they are impacting (or have impacted) your life.
- The amount of evidence that is required and how easy it is to gather it.
- Whether the defendant accepts liability for your injuries or not.
- The ease at which it can be proved who is at fault.
- Whether the case goes to court – many dental claims are settled before it goes to court, saving time and money for everyone.
Examples of dental negligence
Dental negligence claims can arise because of several different situations. Some examples of these include:
Anesthesia complications
Most of the issues connected to anesthesia happen due to an extraction. The complications can range from problems with intubations, incorrect dosages, incorrect monitoring, and poor communication between dental professionals.
Injuries to oral nerves
Oral nerve damage can occur easily when dental work is being done. The two main nerves that can be affected are the inferior alveolar nerve and the trigeminal nerve. They can occasionally be damaged as a result of a range of different procedures including wisdom tooth removal, some oral surgery, lower jaw implant placement, and some root canal, and can result in symptoms such as pain, tingling, and burning sensations.
Complications with bridges and crowns
Some of the problems relating to complications with bridges and crowns include overhanging restorations, open margins, and poor occlusion, as well as a degree of lack of planning for treatment. These complications will normally result in a visually, and cosmetically inadequate look, and/or the function has not been improved (or has been worsened), and if this is the case, you may be able to make a claim.
Tooth extraction problems
There are two different kinds of tooth extraction, known as ‘simple extraction’ and ‘surgical extraction’. When a tooth extraction ‘fails’, there can be several things that go wrong. These include matter (bits of tooth or roots) left behind, nerve injury, the tooth not being able to be extracted, and the wrong tooth being extracted. Should one of these things occur, it does not necessarily mean that your dentist is at fault, but it could be that you are able to make a claim.
Root canal injuries
Root canal treatment, also known as ‘endodontic’ treatment is a procedure used by dentists to remove the tooth and its root, helping to prevent the likelihood of an abscess forming in the gums. Although most root canal treatments have no complications, there are occasions when they can occur. These include nerves that are not removed entirely, broken instruments left inside the mouth, failure to clean the root canal properly, and the failure to advise of alternative treatments.
Infections
There is always a chance that infections can occur when there is any sort of invasive dental work carried out. There are some occasions when nobody is at fault, but there are others when infections can be caused due to dental negligence. Infections can have very serious consequences, including being fatal, and it is essential, therefore, that infections are dealt with properly and swiftly.
Where to report dentist malpractice
If you have had dental work carried out and feel that you have a case against the dental professional that was responsible for your care, you should get in touch with a dental negligence solicitor as quickly as you can. They will then be able to advise you on the next step to take, and whether they believe that you have a claim.
Dental claims with Waldrons Solicitors
Here at Waldrons our team of expert medical negligence solicitors are on hand to speak to you about your dental claims and help you to find a solution as quickly and effectively as possible. If you think that you have a claim, get in touch today!
More information Medical Negligence
