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This article was published on January 18th, 2019
The average person will visit the dentist for their regular check-up every 6 months but imagine having to visit the dentist 10 times a year on average for over 30 years.
In an article published by the Daily Mail, it was revealed that one man attended 294 dental appointments over three decades. During that period he received 120 fillings – including 29 in one tooth alone, 16 tooth extractions and 13 root canal and bridge treatments, all of which incurred an estimated cost of £30,000.
Following legal action, the man received a settlement of £77,000 for dental negligence.
With such a serious case of dental negligence being prolonged over three decades before the negligence was identified and a successful claim was made, it begs the question, when should you contact a solicitor regarding a dental negligence claim?
In this article, we highlight when contacting a dental negligence solicitor essential, as well as some of the common instances of dental negligence that you should look out for.
Within the area of dental negligence law, there are two main types of claims that can be brought. The first is a claim for a misdiagnosis or a failure to act. As the name suggests, misdiagnosis or failure to act claims arise when the dental practitioner fails to correctly identify the dental issue or even identify any issue at all.
The second type of claim that can be pursued is for incorrect or insufficient treatment. These types of claims usually arise as a result of the dental practitioner failing to use the correct techniques and methods when administering treatment.
In both types of claim, there can be serious consequences, with the victim of dental negligence potentially facing extensive medical bills as well as prolonged pain and suffering.
If a dental practitioner has to administer treatment to a tooth or the jaw in order to remedy a medical issue, then they should do so with the utmost care. Failing to do so could cause irreparable damage and leave the patient with potentially life-long symptoms.
Whilst damage to teeth can be evident by the way they look, damage to the jaw can be more difficult to establish and it takes both an expert dental negligence solicitor, such as a member of our team and a medical professional who has experience of dental negligence cases to assess and identify a jaw injury.
For those who have experienced a successful tooth extraction, you will know that even if the procedure is carried out successfully, your mouth can feel sore for a period of time afterwards.
However, if the extraction isn’t completed correctly it can create a multitude of problems including damage to adjacent teeth, nerve damage and it can even cause damage to the structure of the mouth itself.
If you believe that you have had a tooth extraction that was carried out negligently, then it’s essential you seek both medical care and legal advice as soon as possible.
Speaking to a member of our dedicated dental negligence team will help you to identify whether or not your potential claim is viable and our team will also be happy to advise you as to what steps you need to take next.
Otherwise more commonly known as ‘gum disease’, Periodontitis is something that our solicitors have extensive experience of dealing with.
If you have been attending your dentist regularly and they have failed to identify the presence of or advise you in relation to dealing with , Periodontitis then you may be able to make a claim against them for a failure to act or a misdiagnosis.
Gum disease can cause a host of issues including severe pain, loss of teeth, inflammation of the gums as well as infections and rectifying a misdiagnosis of Periodontitis can be very expensive and painful.
When a patient undergoes a cosmetic procedure for their teeth, they’re usually hoping to improve their smile. However, should you become the victim of dental negligence at the hands of a cosmetic dentist, you can be left with serious dental issues.
Cosmetic procedures may include veneers, crowns, and bridges. Before you have any work done your dentist should conduct an extensive assessment of your oral health and hygiene and establish what it is you are hoping to achieve.
If they fail to do this, they run the risk of carrying out a procedure that isn’t suitable or appropriate and thus may become liable for a claim.
If you suspect your dental practitioner of being negligent then you should speak to a member of our dental negligence team as soon as possible.
We offer a free initial interview in order to review your specific circumstances and assess the viability of your dental negligence claim.
To speak to one of our specialist team call us for free on 0800 1979 345 or complete our simple enquiry form and we can call you back at a time to suit you.