Common Dental Negligence Claims

Our Medical Negligence Lawyers offer a free consultation for victims of clinical negligence and medical accidents. Call us on 08000 488 777 or tell us what happened so we can provide you with expert legal advice at no cost to you.

What could be worse that a trip to the dentist that goes awry? No one enjoys visiting the dentist, but we expect those who treat us to offer us a high level of care. Dentists have a duty of care to ensure that they perform their duties to a high standard, and if your dentist has failed you then they may face a claim from you for medical negligence.

Dental Negligence

There are four main types of dental negligence that we deal with for our clients. For these cases, we will seek to get the maximum compensation from the dental practice, who in actuality are covered by insurance policies for just such an eventuality.

Common Dental Negligence Cases

• Incorrect prescription of medicine, or failure to prescribe
• Carelessness while performing a procedure – this includes causing an injury when performing a procedure, or using outdated techniques meaning the patient’s recovery is jeopardised
• Incorrect treatment, or treatment which is unnecessary
• Diagnosing an issue incorrectly if the misdiagnosis leads to increased pain or suffering on the part of the patient

What Can Be Claimed for in a Dental Negligence Case?

Dental negligence cases are now more common than they used to be, and are most likely to succeed. The dental fraternity are now more likely to criticise a colleague who has erred, because being more transparent about the profession has led to a better service and more trust in the good dentists that are out there. Further to this, there is increased access to dental records, making it easier for a claim to be pursued successfully.

You can claim for the cost of any replacement treatment you have to take to rectify the problems that the dentist’s negligence has caused you. You can also claim for any other expenses that you have accrued due to the dentist’s negligence, such as loss of earnings.

Is There a Time Limit for Making a Claim?

You must claim within three years of the dentist’s negligence, unless you can show clear reason to why you couldn’t claim during that time.

An Example Case

A dentist failed to diagnose that a woman had a specific condition that caused holes in her teeth and continued to perform treatments on her over the course of three years. The woman was awarded over £20,000 in compensation.

Making a Dental Negligence Claim

When making a claim, it needs to be shown that the care you received was well below what would be expected from a competent dental practitioner. This can be tricky to show, but with a skilled dental negligence solicitor working for you, you should be able to receive the maximum compensation that you are due for the mistreatment of the dentist. This is not about punishing a dentist for their mistake, but getting the right compensation for the trauma and pain that you have had to go through due to their negligence. Allow us to help you make that claim.

Call our Medical Negligence Lawyers on freephone 08000 488 777 or start your compensation claim online and we will call you. Medical Lawyers

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