What Is Dental Negligence?

Medical professionals owe you a duty of care, and more often than not, dentists diagnose and treat conditions without problems. 

However, when the dental practitioner you previously trusted makes a mistake, the experience can be traumatic.

In short, dental negligence is when a dental professional provides substandard care that causes pain, injury, or trauma to the patient. It covers any injury that’s been directly caused or worsened, or a treatable condition that has been overlooked by a dental professional.

From misdiagnosis to poorly fitted fillings to mistakes in oral surgery, dental negligence can include a variety of different conditions/treatments.

Mistakes are made by both private and NHS dentists, and it can be difficult to determine whether what you’ve experienced is worth taking further action. 

If your dentist has made an error when treating or diagnosing you, it’s best to seek advice from a dental negligence solicitor to find out whether you could make a dental negligence claim. 

The Types Of Dental Negligence 

If you’ve experienced care that’s left you in pain or feeling traumatised, you might suspect you’ve experienced dental negligence.

There are multiple types of dental negligence you should be aware of to gain a better understanding of the care you’ve received. 

Types of dental negligence include, but are not limited to:

1. Nerve damage
2. Tooth extractions 
3. Oral cancer misdiagnosis
4. Cosmetic dentistry errors 
5. Restorative damage

1. Nerve Damage

A type of dental negligence is nerve damage.

Nerve pain can happen through negligent oral surgery, leaving the patient with persistent pain.

Symptoms of nerve damage can include:

• A tingling sensation in the mouth, gums, face, and jaw
• Numbness in the face, jaw, mouth, and gums
• Issues with moving your jaw 
• Uncontrollable drooling 

These symptoms amongst others can make it increasingly difficult for the patient to speak, eat, and drink, hindering their daily life and having a significant impact on their mental health.

If you begin to experience any of the above or other strange symptoms following a dentist appointment, you might be entitled to make a clinical negligence claim.

2. Tooth Extractions 

Another type of dental negligence arises from tooth extraction.

Tooth extractions are a procedure that many people fear, but can be necessary for numerous reasons, from overcrowding to severe damage and decay.

However, if you’ve had the wrong tooth extracted, you could be entitled to make a dental negligence claim. 

This is also true if you’ve suffered from an infection due to incorrect hygiene procedures, or if other healthy teeth have been damaged as a result of a tooth extraction.

3. Oral Cancer Misdiagnosis

An oral cancer misdiagnosis is one of the most serious types of dental negligence. 

Oral cancer includes cancers of the throat, tongue, saliva glands, lips, and cheeks, as well as the hard and soft palate.

Signs of oral cancer include, but are not limited to:

• Mouth ulcers that fail to heal in 3 weeks
• Inexplicable lumps in the mouth or neck
• Difficulty swallowing 
• Numbness and bleeding in the mouth 
• Inexplicable weight loss

If you experienced these symptoms and the dental practitioner failed to further investigate or appropriately refer you to hospital for further investigations to be undertaken, which may have led to a delay in an oral cancer being diagnosed, seek legal advice from a dental negligence solicitor.

4. Cosmetic Dentistry Errors 

Cosmetic dentistry is any type of dental treatment that improves the appearance of the smile and teeth.

This can include treatments such as veneers, braces, and dentures to name a few. 

Although ‘one third of young people have had a cosmetic dental procedure or treatment in the past year’ (2022-2023), mistakes can occur. 

When cosmetic dentistry errors occur, the patient can be left with damage that can not only be very costly but can also cause unnecessary pain and discomfort for the patient.

5. Restorative Damage

Lastly, restorative damage is a common type of dental negligence. 

Restorative dental treatment can include routine procedures such as root canals, fillings, bridges, and implants to name a few.  

From failing to treat tooth decay or having veneers and fillings fitted poorly, restorative damage can occur in numerous circumstances. 

Your dentist is responsible for providing adequate information regarding the risks associated with any proposed treatment or procedure and you must provide your consent to treatment. 

If you believe your dentist has failed in their duty of care, it’s important to speak to a solicitor to find out the next steps.

How We Can Help 

At Harding Evans, our professional dental negligence solicitors have years of experience in these types of cases.  

Our expert solicitors will be able to help establish whether you are entitled to make a dental negligence claim. 

If you believe that you’ve been the victim of dental negligence in the last three years, get in touch with a member of our team today.