Medical Negligence Occurring In Dentistry

Written By: Ayesha Salim on December 15, 2009 One Comment

Many of us shudder at the prospect of going to the dentist, as the very thought of someone drilling into our tooth opens up a house of horrors. However, it is well known that going for a check-up is good for your health and we know that we should place great trust into the professionals that are taking care of us.

Unfortunately, whilst the majority of dentists offer a high standard of service to their patients, some patients do end up being treated negligently. The important point is to distinguish between an unfortunate side effect or actual negligence on the part of the dentist. Your dentist may have been negligent in fitting your crown properly. Now you may be having trouble eating. Or perhaps your dentist failed to spot a serious dental disease and now you are experiencing persistent pain and have suffered permanent damage to your teeth.

Types of dental negligence

There are many types of dental negligence that can occur. The list below outlines some of the main ones:

Misdiagnosis

It is essential that your dentist provides adequate treatment for your dental problem. Providing inadequate treatment by failing to recognise a serious problem could lead to the patient suffering from great emotional and physical distress. If it is clear that the misdiagnosis is the reason for the patient suffering hardship, the patient may be entitled to compensation

Carelessness by dentists

It is the responsibility of the dentist to perform the dental procedure to a high standard, up-keeping the patient’s personal safety at all times. This is essential as great trust is placed in the dentist carrying out the procedure. However, the dentist may be careless during the procedure and end up causing personal injury to the patient. This can give rise to a clinical negligence claim.

Inadequate treatment

The patient is entitled to receive a high standard of treatment for their dental problems. In some cases, the dentist fails in this duty, and as a consequence the patient suffers personal injury. In order to make a clinical negligence claim, the patient will have to prove that another dentist in the same professional capacity would not have made the same error in judgement.

Drug usage for the patient

The dentist may be responsible for giving the patient the wrong dosage of drug or may have failed to analyse the patient’s forms which would have mentioned any allergies the patient may have. If the patient suffered personal injury as a result of this then they may be able to claim compensation.

If you have suffered under the hands of a dentist then you may be entitled to a compensation claim. Whether your dentist has provided you with substandard care or caused a dental accident which resulted in you suffering personal injury, our specialist solicitors will be able to advise you.

Please note that in order for dental claims to be successful, it must be proven that the same treatment would not have been provided by a reasonable and competent member of the dental professional. Our specialist solicitors provide a sympathetic and friendly service, and will ensure that you have the best chance available in pursuing your compensation claim for dental injury.

Ayesha Salim , editor of the UK Lawyers Network, writes articles about solicitor, Lawyer, Dental Negligence, find a solicitor, legal, lawyer, law help advice, solicitors litigation