When it comes to visiting the dentist, there aren’t too many people who particularly enjoy the prospect of having dental work done nor, of course, the possibility of having to have a tooth removed.
Fortunately, the vast majority of dental procedures are safe, effective and go according to plan without any problems along the way. That said, of course, (and as with anything else in life), there’s always potential for something to go wrong and having the wrong tooth extracted is certainly no laughing matter (in every sense of the word).
What can I do if my dentist extracts the wrong tooth, or teeth?
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having the wrong tooth (or teeth) extracted then you’ll naturally want to make a claim against your dentist to compensate you for their error.
Using a team of expert solicitors that are highly experienced in dental claims is the best place to start (a solicitor is essentially a lawyer and used in some countries like the U.K.)
What might I be able to claim for?
If your dentist has been negligent, then you should be able to claim for medical negligence – not to mention, of course, any additional loss you might well incur as a result of the extraction (for example aesthetic costs or any additional treatment which might be required). The dental negligence claims solicitors will be able to guide you every step of the way and help you to bring a successful claim against your dentist or oral healthcare professional.
In addition to the treatment (and remedial process) itself, you might also be able to claim for any loss of earnings or other associated losses (such as prescription charges) so it’s important you speak to them as soon as possible.
Will I have to go back to the same dentist?
Absolutely not. In fact, it’s perfectly understandable why you wouldn’t want to go back to the same dentist – particularly if they’ve been negligent in their duty of care towards you.
If the wrong tooth has been extracted and can’t be put back in, then you might need to consider either a crown or an implant to replace it. However, this doesn’t have to be with the same dentist (or even the same practice) if you don’t feel comfortable using them again. You’re perfectly entitled to have any remedial treatment done elsewhere and then simply incorporate the cost of doing this into your overall claim.
How quickly do I need to make a claim?
If you’re looking to make a claim for dental negligence then you need to do so within three years. Any claims made after this period of time are likely to be statute barred and you won’t be able to take any action against your dentist.
What is the claims process?
Once you contact a dental negligence solicitor, they’ll take as much information as possible from you in order to start your claim – and perhaps ask a few questions so that we can get a better picture of what’s happened. If you’re happy with them to act on your behalf, they’ll then send a formal letter of claim to your dentist and put them on notice that you intend to claim compensation from them; together with any other associated losses (such as remedial treatment and so on).
All dentists in the U.K. have to be registered with the General Dental Council, the U.K.’s dental regulator who set certain standards across the entire industry. However, whilst they’ll certainly investigate any complaints (and even strike a dental professional off their register if deemed appropriate), they can’t provide any financial redress to patients. This is why it’s so important to speak with someone at the soonest opportunity.
Will I have to go to Court?
Fortunately the vast majority of cases are capable of being settled without a court hearing so it’s quite unlikely that you’ll have to attend Court in order to receive your compensation. Of course, there are certain exceptions to the rule but generally speaking, solicitors always do their best to negotiate with either the dental practice concerned and/or their insurers.
How do I make a claim?
For those in the U.K., making a claim through a Dental Negligence Solicitors is easy (for example, visit https://smithjonessolicitors.co.uk/dental-negligence-claims/). If you’d like to chat to them about the services they offer you can speak with one on 0800 195 95 90. They’re there to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so why not give them a call & tell them a little bit more about your claim?
Remember, you only have three years from the date of your treatment to make a claim so the sooner you call, the sooner they can help you get the best remedial treatment and compensation settlement. After all, that’s what they do best!