Dental Negligence Claims

How do I make a dental negligence claim

Dental negligence claims usually must be issued in court within the three years of the date of the negligent treatment or the date the injured person became aware of their injuries or that their injuries may have been caused by negligent treatment. Adverse dental symptoms sometimes don’t occur immediately after treatment and can take some weeks or months to become evident.

It is important that you contact us quickly if you consider you may have a potential claim. If you fail to issue the claim in court within three years it is very likely that you will be barred from bringing the claim. Occasionally there are exceptions to the three year time limit so it is worth seeking advice about this.

Dental negligence claims can be as complex and demanding as any medical negligence case. The first thing to do is to contact an expert law firm like Shoosmiths which specialises in this work. It is important that your chosen law firm has relationships with the appropriate experts whose evidence will be crucial to your claim.

Call us today for a free initial consultation. We can give you an objective assessment about where you stand and the options you should consider.

If I have a dental negligence case

Establishing whether you have a case for making a dental negligence claim depends on whether you can prove with the support of our expert lawyers that it was the breach of the duty of care owed to you by the dentist or dental technician which directly caused an injury. We can provide a free initial consultation and usually handle your case on a no-win-no-fee basis.

If we can show that negligent dental treatment caused your injury, you may have a case for making a claim for dental negligence. Dental claims can also be made if you did not give your genuinely informed consent because the dentist did not give you adequate information or warnings about the risks involved. Had you been properly informed and warned, you may not have gone ahead with the procedure.

More about dental negligence claims

Most dental care is of a high standard. However, dentists and dental technicians can make mistakes, causing needless pain, suffering and expense.

Dental negligence solicitors, like Shoosmiths, are increasingly involved in claims concerning cosmetic dentistry. These cases include avoidable accidents during bleaching or the fitting of porcelain veneers, crowns and bridgework or orthodontic work. Some dental surgeries also offer procedures involving dermal fillers, Botox or hyaluronic acid which also have inherent risks if not used correctly and safely.

Regardless of the type of dental negligence, avoidable mistakes by dentists or dental technicians can have immediate and long-lasting consequences, causing pain, suffering and emotional stress. These can lead to you needing time off work.

Damages awarded in dental negligence claims vary depending on the severity of the injury, the cost of dental treatment undergone or required and whether the injured person has fully recovered.