Dental negligence can be extremely difficult, both physically and emotionally. A tooth extraction can be especially damaging, particularly if something goes wrong due to negligence. Between 2006 and 2011, 138 dental negligence claims were made due to:
- Teeth removal without proper, informed consent from patients.
- Wrong tooth removed, not addressing the pain source.
- Removing a tooth that could have been saved through further treatment.
- Removing the wrong tooth due to viewing the chart incorrectly.
Any surgical procedure carries risk, however, all risk must be fully explained to you by all medical professionals.
The Wrong Tooth Was Extracted
Dental pain can often be non-specific. You may be unable to know exactly which tooth is causing pain, and your dentist has a duty of care to ensure that you receive the best treatment possible. An x-ray should be carried out to know which tooth is infected, broken, or cracked.
Should an x-ray not be carried out or be misinterpreted, causing the wrong tooth to be extracted, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation. It should help to address the costs for further dental work needed to replace your tooth and to help relieve any pain you may have.
Tooth Broken During Extraction
Every medical procedure has associated risks, and dental extractions are no different. Your dentist needs to ensure that you understand the risks associated with tooth extraction, such as the tooth potentially breaking through extraction. This can be a common complication, however, your should guarantee that no root or tooth fragment is left through carrying out an x-ray.
If you had a tooth extraction in which your dentist either left a fragment behind or didn’t explain to you the risks, you may be entitled to receive compensation for a dental negligence claim.
There Was Damage to the Jaw Bone
The majority of tooth extractions is undertaken without an issue, however, their potentially traumatic component can cause further damage. When excessive force is used, it can often break or damage other teeth, fracture the lower jaw, or break or damage dental implants or fillings. You may have a compensation claim if you believe that the use of excessive force by your dentist caused further damage.
What Other Complications Can Arise?
There are a few complications that can arise from a tooth extraction, such as:
- Gums or lips being severed
- Tooth extraction delay
- Unforeseeable damage caused to surrounding teeth
- Roof of mouth (palate) damaged
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Prolonged bleeding
- Severe swelling post-operation or scarring from severe lacerations
If you’ve had a tooth extracted to due medical negligence, you may be able to claim compensation. Our No Win, No Fee policy ensures that you don’t incur any expense should your claim be unsuccessful.
Our dental negligence solicitors are highly trained to approach every case with the professionalism and compassion they deserve. Contact our team by giving us a call on 01772 562084 or request a call back to know more. We’re always happy to have a chat about your case.