Dental Negligence

Going to the dentist's isn't a pleasant experience for most, but this is nothing compared to the trauma that can be caused when problems arise after treatment has been administered - especially if these problems were the cause of negligence and could have therefore been prevented. Injury Claims Solutions specialises in gaining compensation for those affected by this type of negligence - compensation that goes some way towards making up for the physical and emotional consequences caused by the dentist that you trusted to do the right thing for you.

Making a Claim
Making a claim for dental negligence is not as difficult as you might think when you contact Injury Claims Solutions. We can guide you through the whole process and, for the most part, you won't have to do anything. The process is divided into a number different stages, all of which lead directly onto the next. The first of these is you identifying that you might have been the victim of dental negligence and then contacting us. Using the lists above should help you come to a conclusion regarding this.

When you contact us, we will conduct an analysis to see whether your dental negligence claim is valid. If it is, we will refer a specialist solicitor to you, who will contact you and discuss both your case and our 'no win, no fee' policy, which protects you from any costs should the case fail. In fact, you will also keep all of the compensation when you win, as we will file for costs from the other side. After a string of inquiries and exhaustive work, we will then notify the defendant that they are having a compensation claim made against them. Normally the claim is then settled out of court. If not, we will represent you every step of the way.

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What is Dental Negligence?
Dental negligence can come in all forms, but it can typically be broken down into two distinct groups:

Failure by the dentist or dental staff to administer correct treatment, either through a lack of care or through a lack of knowledge and expertise.
Problems caused through the use of inadequate, incorrect or faulty equipment, therefore leading to further problems, dental or otherwise.

Regardless of which of these two categories you feel that you've been affected by, they both come down to one simple fact: they have been caused by someone else not taking the appropriate care to resolve your problems. People trust medical practitioners without question, so to have this bond of trust abused is something that presents grounds for a genuine and justified compensation claim on behalf of the victim.

Your Rights as a Patient
As a patient of a dentist, you have a number of rights, all of which should be adhered to by the dentist. These are:

The dentist must explain both the drawbacks and benefits of any specific treatment before they start, so that you can make an educated decision regarding whether you want the treatment.
The dentist must explain any alternatives that are available to you, aside from the treatment that they are recommending.
Permission must be gaining by the dentist from you before they carry out any type of treatment, however minor it might be.
The dentist must explain your dental records to you should you want to know more about them, or should you not understand them clearly.
All dentists must provide emergency treatment within 24 hours for their patients, regardless of whether they are Health Service or private dentists.
All dentists must be trained to specific and exacting standards, so that they can provide the highest level of care.
Should you terminate an agreement with a private dentist, they are obliged to finish any treatment currently being performed, as well as provide any emergency treatment that might be needed while this is ongoing.

Failure to adhere to any of these rights by the dentist could well result in a situation whereby you are able to claim compensation. We can advise you on whether this is the case quickly and without cost.

Different Types of Dental Negligence
There are a number of different ways in which a dentist can specifically commit dental negligence including, but not limited to:

Misdiagnosis. Misdiagnosis can lead to two things. It can either cause the incorrect treatment to be administered, therefore leading to further pain and suffering, or it can lead to the original condition not being treated. In the worst cases, both of these can happen.
Incorrect tooth removal. Removing the incorrect tooth is a clear sign that the dentist is either incompetent or not taken correct care to ensure a good standard of work. Either way, this is perhaps the most glaring type of dental negligence.
Incorrect drug administration. Having the incorrect drug administered can lead to a number of problems, not least unnecessary pain being suffered through a procedure. It can also lead to allergic reactions that can necessitate further medical treatment and can be extremely dangerous to a person's health.
Incorrect or inadequate treatment. This type of error can result in problems occurring over a long period of time, therefore meaning that they are not noticed until often years after they have been caused. Although many people simply dismiss them as bad luck, they are in fact something that can be investigated and compensation can be claimed.
Diagnosis failure. Failing to identify a problem is hugely negligent, as all dentists should have the necessary skills to both identify and remedy all oral problems. Failure to diagnose can lead to the problem worsening, therefore leading to more suffering for the patient, as well as lengthier procedures to solve the problem later on in life.

Every single year a surprisingly large number of people suffer from one or more of the problems mentioned above, meaning that they could have a valid case for compensation to be paid to them by the dentist at fault. If you believe that you've gone through one of these experiences then contact Injury Claims Solutions and speak to one of our specialist advisors.

Signs of Dental Negligence
Very often people won't know that they have been the victim of dental negligence until after they have left the dentist's office -- usually a few weeks after, in fact. So what are the signs that you should look for after leaving to ascertain whether your dentist has treated you correctly and in line with the professional obligations that they have towards you?

An increase in pain in an area of the mouth after visiting the dentist.
Allergic reactions to any drugs that have been administered, which can be denoted by a number of symptoms, such as rashes, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. More serious cases can lead to a spell in hospital and, in rare situations, can be life threatening.
Pain due to incorrectly administered treatment, such as braces being fitted incorrectly.

Obviously these are only the main symptoms of dental negligence -- there are many more. Everyone is different and problems manifest themselves in different ways, meaning that it is important to speak with a trained solicitor, who can direct you in the correct direction when looking to claim compensation or even to simply discover if you're eligible for a claim.