Reasons For Medical Negligence In Dentistry

By Ayesha Salim

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.

Although in most cases, the treatment provided by dentists to their patients is of a high standard, in some instances this standard fails as some patients suffer personal injury as a result. However, it is necessary to distinguish between an unfortunate side effect or actual negligence on the part of the dentist. Your dentist may have been negligent in a number of different ways. It is possible that your crown was not fitted properly. Perhaps your dentist was negligent in failing to spot a serious dental disease and now you are experiencing persistent pain and have suffered permanent damage to your teeth.

The types of dental negligence

There are many different ways a dentist can be negligent. Below are some of the more common mistakes made by dentists:

Misdiagnosis by dentists

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

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 over a length of time

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

Giving the patient the wrong dosage of drug could lead to some serious implications for the patient. Similarly, analysing the patient's forms is an essential part of the procedure which dentist's should perform as there may be a record of a certain type of allergy that the patient has. If the dentist fails in these tasks, and the patient suffers personal injury as a result, this could give rise to a potential compensation claim.

If you feel that the dental treatment provided to you was below standard, and suffered injury as a result, you may be entitled to a compensation claim. Our specialist solicitor's will be able to assist you in your claim if your dentist caused a dental accident which resulted in you suffering emotionally and physically.

It will have to be demonstrated that another competent member of the dental profession would not have provided the same form of treatment. Let our solicitors assess your case with compassion and understanding, and we will be able to ensure you that you have the best chance possible in winning your compensation claim. - 31397

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