Most people when thinking about malpractice suits are not aware that there are also dental malpractice suits filed. Dental malpractice suits are in their own category but just as any other person in the medical field, dentists are liable for improper treatment services.
The frequency of the number of claims in dental malpractice is pretty steady. The claims are smaller of course than in the medical field. Here is a range of injuries, due to improper dental treatment that can lead to a dental malpractice claim: injuries to jaw, lip and tongue nerves, injuries related to anesthesia and death.
If a dentist for example fails to detect oral cancer, and other oral diseases he is liable. A dentist has to make sure that there are no prior medical conditions that may require special treatment for example before giving anesthesia.
The most obvious dental malpractice case is when a patient dies from the dental procedure. This can happen for example by administering improper anesthesia or by improper treatment of gum infections. Here are some other reasons for a person to be able to file a dental malpractice suit:
1. Permanent nerve damage due to complications from an oral surgery.
2. Sometimes a root canal can result in permanent numbness.
3. When a person may be injured from what is called a dental extraction (making a mistake by accidentally removing a good tooth)
Dentists are just like other physicians liable for any injury due to improper treatment or wrong diagnosis. By law, dentists are held to a certain standard of care when rendering services to their patients.
Here are some real cases of dental malpractice:
1. A case of periodontal abscess caused by defective bridge not properly treated: a $24,000 settlement.
2. A woman had a procedure done but it was done with improper contoured crowns and bridges, negligence: a $47,500 settlement.
3. A patient had a permanently numbed tongue following a rather routine wisdom tooth extraction: a $140.000 settlement.
4. A young man who sustained nerve injury in his mouth as a result of a dental procedure: a $54,000 settlement,
5. A woman with painful numb lip and chin after a routine dental treatment: a $100.000 settlement.
While it is not quite clear how many cases of dental malpractice are filed every year in the United States alone, according to some statistics the numbers are rising. There are countless cases of people that have suffered due to improper dental procedures and negligence and all too often these cases are not reported. Often, people may not be aware that they can file a dental malpractice suit. While dentists are people and therefore can make mistakes, making an error that results in a permanent injury that could have been avoided is not acceptable.
If you feel that you have experienced any of the injuries above or some others, it may be time for you to search for a lawyer that is familiar with dental malpractice lawsuits and that can help and advise you.
The time that you may spend searching for such a lawyer could make a difference in your life or the life of one of your family members. It is only right to get justice when injured through careless dental treatments or negligence.
