What is dental negligence?

According to the British Dental Association around 25% of the British population suffer anxiety over seeing a dentist. Most of the time their fears are unfounded, the pain is temporary and they leave with less discomfort, however there are times when things can go wrong. Accidents can happen but if a dentist fails in providing the level of care expected then there could be a case for compensation.

All medical practitioners have a duty of care which means that they must take precautions to ensure their patients’ safety. However, in certain scenarios they, as dentists, might not meet this requirement.

An example of this could be a dentist carrying out a treatment which is not actually required – i.e., removing a healthy tooth in place of one that actually needs to be extracted.

Sometimes negligence can be caused by overlooking a problem which needs attention, for example, by failing to recognise decay in a tooth which later has to be extracted.

Another way in which negligence can occur is by a dental professional failing to meet the expected standards of care. An example of this could be by failing to correctly fit crowns or bridges which result in further treatment having to take place and further pain for the individual.

It is important that anyone who feels that they may have suffered due to negligence of a dentist seeks professional legal advice. If you would like more information on the different areas of medical negligence please click here to read our free guide or call Rollingsons medical negligence team on 0207 611 4848 to arrange a free and no obligation initial consultation.