Dental negligence can have a devastating effect on a patient’s life, affecting their ability to eat, speak, and even smile. In some cases, the consequences are so severe that the affected person requires significant compensation to make up for the resulting damage.

If you have been the victim of dental negligence, you may be entitled to compensation through a dental negligence compensation claim. Our dental negligence claim calculator will show you how much compensation you are entitled to. Also, understanding your rights, the process of filing a claim, and the types of damages you may be entitled to will help you secure the compensation you deserve.

What Is Dental Negligence?

Dental negligence occurs when a dental professional provides inadequate care that results in harm to the patient. It can involve errors in diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, or even the failure to obtain informed consent before beginning a procedure.

What Are the Different Types of Dental Negligence?

Several types of dental negligence can lead to a compensation claim. Some of them include the following:

Misdiagnosis

One of the most common types of dental negligence is misdiagnosis, where the dentist fails to identify and treat a dental issue.

Improper Treatment

This occurs when the dentist performs a procedure incorrectly or uses substandard materials.

Failure To Obtain Informed Consent From The Patient

This happens when a dentist does not explain the risks and benefits of treatment before beginning a procedure. It is a legal requirement that a dentist obtains consent from their patient before performing any treatment.

Although these are the popular forms of dental negligence, your case may not fall under these categories. Regardless, suppose you feel you have been the victim of dental negligence. In that case, it is imperative that you seek professional legal advice from a solicitor experienced in dealing with dental negligence compensation claims.

Issues such as these need to be dealt with swiftly, as there are usually time limits on filing claims, so don’t delay seeking legal advice. Having the right solicitor on your side could make all the difference in claiming the compensation you deserve.

What Are the Consequences of Dental Negligence?

The consequences of dental negligence can vary depending on the severity of the case and what has been done wrong. Commonly, a victim of dental negligence will suffer from some form of dental trauma or harm. This could include:

Oral Trauma

This occurs when a dentist fails to ensure their patient’s teeth are sufficiently anaesthetised before performing a procedure.

Dental Implant Failure

A person suffers from dental implant failure if a dentist fails to properly prepare the patient’s gums and jaw for a dental implant.

Surgical Complications

This occurs when a dentist fails to handle a patient’s post-operative care properly.

Oral Infections

Oral infections occur if a dentist fails to sterilise equipment properly.

Speech or Eating Difficulties

This can occur if a dentist fails to perform a procedure appropriately, and the patient suffers the consequences for the rest of their life.

Am I Eligible for Compensation?

Before using our dental negligence claim calculator, you must ascertain that you are eligible for compensation. The eligibility criteria for claiming compensation when you have been a victim of dental negligence are:

• You must be in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
• You must be able to prove that you were a victim of dental negligence.
• A dentist or dental care professional act or omission must have injured you.
• The injury has to be related to treatment provided by the dentist or dental care professional.
• The damage has to be severe enough to affect your life in some way, such as being unable to work, being unable to look after your children, or having pain that keeps you awake at night.
• You must have been injured by the dentist or dental care professional’s negligence but not due to illness.
• You must have been injured while under the dentist’s care, meaning that you were under their control when it happened.

What Are the Steps for Filing a Dental Negligence Compensation Claim?

Before you can file a dental negligence compensation claim, you first need to prove that a dentist has been negligent in their treatment of you. This can be challenging, as it is rarely enough to state a dentist has harmed you.

You need to provide evidence that the dentist’s actions have caused you harm and that there was no reasonable explanation for their actions. Once you have proof of dental negligence, you can proceed to claim damages.

Dental negligence claims are complex and challenging, which is why it is vital to obtain the services of a solicitor with experience in this field. A compensation solicitor will help you secure the maximum compensation possible with minimal effort on your part.

To start your claim, you will need to gather evidence of dental negligence, including:

Doctors’ Reports: This can be particularly helpful in cases where you have suffered an infection due to dental negligence.

Witnesses: Witnesses can be instrumental in cases where the dentist has failed to place a dental implant correctly.

Your Medical Records: Your medical records can help prove the extent of your injuries.

What Type of Compensation Are You Eligible For?

Below are some of the damages you can ask for in a dental negligence claim:

• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of consortium
• Physical therapy bills
• Punitive damages

The following are estimated amounts you can receive in a dental negligence settlement:

• Compensation for loss of one tooth: £1,500
• Compensation for loss of front teeth: £1,500 – £2,500
• Compensation for loss of two teeth: £3,000
• Compensation for loss of 2+ front teeth: £2,500 – £7,000
• Compensation for loss of further teeth: extra £1,000 for each further tooth
• Compensation for fractured jaw and loss of teeth: £4,500 – £25,000

Calculate Your Dental Negligence Compensation Today!

Making a dental negligence compensation claim can be a complex process. Thankfully, our team of legal experts can help you through the process until you get justice. But first, you should find out how much you could receive.

Read more about Personal Injury claims on our Personal Injury page or read more articles about Personal Injury claims.

Ready to submit your claim? Use the enquiry form on this page.