Dental treatment is something few people relish, and when something goes wrong, the consequences can be serious.
Dentist Mistake Compensation
Dentist mistake compensation is a means by which people who have been subject to dental malpractice can find redress for the damage and distress caused.
If you’ve sustained an injury or suffered as a direct result of a dental professional’s negligence, you may be entitled to make a compensation claim.
While it’s not often discussed, it’s more common than people think, with around 16,000 cases of clinical negligence registered with the Compensation Recovery Unit annually.
When mistakes do occur, patients often need expensive and potentially intrusive dental treatments to try and repair the damage.
At Wafer Phillips, our team regularly works with clients who have suffered from dental malpractice, but who are unsure how to proceed.
We help them ascertain whether they may be entitled to dentist mistake compensation for the damage caused by the negligence.
Types of Dental Claims
Dentist mistake compensation is known as a damages payment.
In the case of dental negligence, it comes in two types:
1. General Damages
General damages are the most common type of dentist mistake compensation.
This covers a range of issues that have developed as a result of poor or negligent dental treatment, and allows you to claim compensation for any pain or suffering caused.
If you lose the ability to chew or do certain things as a result of damage from dental treatment, this may fall under ‘loss of amenity.’
If tooth extraction becomes necessary as a result of poor treatment, then you may be able to claim.
Even if your teeth are intact, you may still be able to claim, particularly if you were subjected to unnecessarily painful treatment or a lack of qualifications or experience on behalf of the dentist.
2. Special Damages
Special damages compensate the claimant for any extra expenses or loss of income incurred as a result of poor dental treatment.
This might include the costs of medicines and prescriptions, like painkillers, or any loss of earnings due to an inability to carry out your job or being forced to take time off work.
If you need specialist treatment some distance from your home, then special damages may also cover the cost of travel.
Qualifying Injuries for Dental Compensation
Dental mistake compensation covers a wide range of dental negligence issues. These include:
- Being wrongly diagnosed or experiencing a delay in diagnosis, leading to suffering
- Not being informed of the risks involved in treatment
- Failure to follow correct dental procedures during treatment
- Lack of exploration of alternative treatment options, resulting in harm
- Lack of referral for additional tests after concerning symptoms (e.g., oral cancer)
- Nerve damage (temporary or permanent) causing numbness, difficulties eating, etc.
- Complications with root canal treatment, such as fractured teeth or leftover infected bacteria
- Loss or damage to multiple teeth
- Wrong tooth extraction
- Issues following cosmetic dentistry
- Poorly installed fillings
These are some of the most common issues that may lead individuals to seek compensation for the cost, distress, and discomfort they experienced.
General Dental Damage Compensation
The compensation you may receive under general dental damage can vary considerably, depending on the type of treatment received, any loss of amenity, and the resulting pain experienced.
For instance, guidelines suggest payment for a broken or lost tooth can range from £900 to £8,000.
The amount is based on the treatment you received and any corrective work needed, with higher tariffs for front teeth. Typical payments are:
- £910 to £1,430 for a single back tooth
- £1,849 to £3,300 for a single front tooth
- £3,600 to £6,380 for two front teeth
- £7,320 to £9,540 for several front teeth
- Payments for gum disease or similar conditions can reach up to £32,000
Factors Influencing Dental Compensation Amount
The extent of the payment received will typically depend on a range of factors, with loss of amenity as a key element.
If you lose the ability to chew with certain teeth or experience gum disease leading to permanent jawbone weakening, the payout will increase to reflect the long-term discomfort and inconvenience.
Proving Dental Malpractice
Proving dental malpractice involves showing that the treatment fell below acceptable or reasonable standards, which can vary between cases.
Claimants may need to prove that if another dental professional treated them in the same circumstances, they would have made different decisions for a better outcome.
Evidence may include dental records from before and after the incident. In some cases, a separate dental expert may assess the evidence to understand the long-term effects of negligence, which will affect the compensation claim.
It’s advisable to use a solicitor to collect appropriate evidence for a strong case. Additional evidence, like out-of-pocket expenses for private healthcare following the treatment, can also be valuable.
Length of a Dental Malpractice Claim
The duration of a claim often depends on the injury’s severity and whether the dental practitioner accepts responsibility.
At Wafer Phillips, we work quickly to settle cases and secure dentist mistake compensation for clients, though complex cases may take longer.
Why Choose Wafer Phillips Solicitors?
For over three decades, we have supported victims of dental malpractice, working on their behalf to achieve successful compensation claims.
We understand how difficult dealing with negligence-related injury can be, and our team is here to help.
Our specialist solicitors will support you in gathering evidence, filing claims, and ensuring you receive the correct medical treatment.
Wafer Phillips operates on a no-win, no-fee policy, with no hidden charges.
If you, or someone you know, has recently been a victim of dental malpractice, contact us today at 0151 256 7898 for a free initial consultation.