Dental Negligence Claims

When you visit a dental surgery, you expect to leave it, with your teeth and oral hygiene in a better condition than you when you went in. However, it is an unfortunate fact of life, that sometimes things can go wrong, leaving the patient with unnecessary pain, discomfort and even with the need for corrective surgery.

If you feel that you have been provided with substandard medical care, that has caused you damage and harm, you may be able to claim compensation for dental negligence.

Types of Dental Negligence cases

Any incidence of negligence by a dentist, dental surgeon, hygienist or assistant can lead to a patient suffering an increased amount of pain and discomfort which could have been avoided, including:

• Unnecessary extraction of one or more teeth
• Wrong tooth being extracted
• Too little anaesthetic being administered resulting in unbearable pain and discomfort during treatment
• Infection caused by lack of cleanliness or inadequate hygiene routines
• Failure or incorrect diagnosis of dental conditions, often leading to complications
• Treatment being carried out by unqualified staff
• Patient allergies not being identified prior to surgery (e.g. latex allergies)

Making a Dental Negligence Compensation Claim

There are few people who relish the thought of visiting the dentist, although in reality the anxiety felt by many people before the event is often much worse than the actual appointment. But if things do go wrong all these fears will appear to have been justified and leaving you to consider whether to make a dental negligence compensation claim.

If it can be proven that the complications you have incurred are a result of a negligent act by dental surgeon treating you, then you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

As well as claiming for the pain and suffering you have incurred as a result of the negligent dental treatment, you may also be able to claim for any out of pocket expenses you have incurred as a direct result of the malpractice. This may include items such as lost earnings (if you required unpaid time off work to recover from complications), the cost of travelling to additional dental appointments and the cost of painkillers and prescription charges.

If you believe that you may have a case for bringing a dental negligence claim case you should seek specialist legal advice as soon as possible by calling us on 08000 93 00 94, or completing an Online Enquiry and a member of our dental negligence team will call you back.