Dental care is an essential part of maintaining good overall health. Unfortunately, there are instances when dental treatment falls short, and patients suffer harm as a result. If you’ve suffered due to dental medical negligence in Scotland, you may be entitled to make a dental claim.
Our expert dental medical malpractice solicitors are here to guide you through every step of the claims process. Contact us now on 0333 3580 583.
Understanding Dental Claims
When dental professionals fail to deliver the standard of care expected, the consequences can be severe, ranging from prolonged pain to permanent damage. However, the repercussions of dental negligence can ripple through into every area of your daily routine, turning ordinary moments into constant reminders of your distress.
Basic human actions — like eating and talking — can fill you with dread as you anticipate the pain to follow. Your self-esteem and confidence can be impacted by negligent dental care. Without realising it, you may hesitate to smile in meetings or withdraw from social situations.
Chronic dental pain can also negatively affect your professional performance, resulting in decreased productivity and difficulty concentrating. Even your sleep can be disrupted by the discomfort. This can lead to restless nights that impact your well-being and mental health.
At Friends Legal, we recognise the challenges you face due to dental medical negligence. We understand the complexities of dental claims and are committed to providing the support and representation you need throughout this difficult time.
Types of Dental Medical Negligence
Dental medical negligence can happen in many ways, including:
Incorrect treatment
When the wrong type of treatment is provided, it can lead to further complications or personal injury. This can include mistakes with:
- Fillings,
- Crown work,
- Root canal treatments,
- Orthodontic treatment, or
- Cosmetic dentistry.
Misdiagnosis
Failure to diagnose or delayed diagnosis of conditions like oral cancer or periodontal (gum) disease can lead to severe consequences. For example, if a dentist fails to diagnose oral cancer despite clear signs, the cancer may progress and require more extensive treatment.
Surgical errors
Mistakes during dental surgery can lead to nerve damage, infections, or other severe conditions. This may include extracting the wrong tooth or an incorrect administration of anaesthesia.
Unnecessary procedures
Dental negligence can involve performing unnecessary procedures that harm or injure the patient, such as unnecessary extractions, fillings, or other invasive treatments.
Prescription mistakes
When a dentist prescribes the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage following dental surgery, it can lead to adverse reactions or the condition worsening.
The Impact of Dental Negligence
Dental negligence leaves more than just a physical change. People can often experience emotional trauma, loss of confidence, and financial burdens due to additional treatments and loss of earnings.
Whether you experienced dental medical negligence during a routine check-up or a more complex surgical procedure, we understand these scenarios can be scary. Our clinical negligence lawyers are empathetic to your situation and will work with you to ease the stress.
Pursuing a Dental Medical Malpractice Claim in Scotland
Pursuing a claim for dental negligence involves proving that the dental professional breached their duty of care, resulting in harm or injury. This typically requires detailed dental records, expert opinions, and a comprehensive understanding of dental practices.
How to Establish Negligence With A Dental Claim
To succeed in a dental medical negligence claim in Scotland, you must demonstrate that the dental professional’s actions or inactions were negligent and directly led to your injury or harm.
This process involves demonstrating:
- The duty of care was breached: It must be shown that the dental professional failed to meet the expected standard of care.
- Harm or injury was caused: It is essential to establish that the substandard treatment directly led to harm or injury, resulting in physical, emotional, or financial losses.
- Damages: Finally, you must demonstrate the damages are directly linked to the negligence. Physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial loss (such as medical expenses or loss of earnings) are common ways to prove this.
Compensation for Dental Injuries
The amount of compensation you can claim for a dental injury in Scotland varies depending on the details of your case, however, dental compensation amounts typically average between £10,000-12,000.
Understanding the full scope of your circumstances is crucial in building a robust medical negligence claim and securing you the maximum compensation. Some of the factors that will be considered are:
- Injury severity
- Pain and suffering
- Long-term effects
- Financial damages
- Corrective treatment costs
Dental Claim — How We Can Help
Dental negligence can profoundly impact your physical health, emotional well-being, and financial stability. If you have experienced negligent dental treatment, seeking legal advice as soon as possible is crucial.
At Friends Legal, our specialised dental medical malpractice lawyers will guide you through the entire claims process. We’ll gather the necessary evidence (such as X-rays and dental records), consult with dental experts, and negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive the rightful compensation for your suffering.
We are committed to making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible while striving to achieve the best outcome for your case.
No Win, No Fee
We offer a ‘No Win, No Fee’ arrangement to ensure financial worries don’t prevent you from seeking justice. This means you won’t have to pay any upfront legal fees; our fees will only apply if we successfully secure compensation for you.
Time Limits for Dental Claims
In Scotland, the general time limit for filing a dental claim is three years from the date of the incident or the date you became aware of the negligence. Reach out for legal advice as soon as possible to make sure your claim is filed within these timeframes.
Dental Medical Negligence Legal Advice — Speak With Our Solicitors Today
If you’ve suffered from dental negligence, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Friends Legal for a free consultation. Our friendly dental medical malpractice lawyers are ready to listen to your story and help you move forward with your claim. Phone us on 0333 3580 583 or complete our online form, and we’ll contact you.
