Dental Malpractice Claims Increase Due To Negligent Dental Treatment
dental malpractice is the result of a dental professional's providing negligent treatment or failure to properly diagnose an oral problem
. dental malpractice claims are steadily on the rise. These claims may be smaller overall when compared to medical malpractice claims, but this should not detract from the fact that dental negligence can result in serious injuries to the patient. Dental negligence can cause oral numbness and lost sensation, nerve damage in the tongue, lips, or jaw. Injuries can be suffered as a result of improper or negligent anesthesia administration. In some severe cases, negligence on the part of your dentist can even cause death.
There are many instances of dental malpractice claims that arise out of a negligent failure to timely diagnose an oral disease or a misdiagnosis of such a problem. This can happen when a dentist fails to detect and / or diagnose an instance of oral cancer. Additionally, administering anesthesia to a patient without taking a full patient history first can lead to serious injuries or death to the patient, and thus, the dentist will be liable for the patient's dental malpractice claim.
Death due to negligent dental treatment or misdiagnosis is rare, but does happen in some instances. Such cases are relatively clear-cut, and thus, the plaintiff should be able to easily establish dental malpractice on the part of the defendant dentist. Death can result from such things as a failure to diagnose an oral cancer, improper administration of anesthesia during a dental procedure, or improper treatment of a gum infection.
There are also less serious instances of dental malpractice due to negligent dental practices. Dental care that falls below the standard in the industry can cause permanent nerve damage arising from oral surgery complications, permanent numbing from a standard root canal, or a dental professional removing the wrong tooth. These all violate the standard of care that dentists are held up to, and thus, may be the basis for dental malpractice claims.
Some examples of some real life dental malpractice cases that resulted in settlement are:
Periodontal abscess caused by a defective bridge which received improper treatment;
Use of improperly contoured crowns and bridges during a dental procedure;
Permanent numbness of the tongue from a routine removal of wisdom teeth;
Nerve injury to the mouth during a routine dental procedure;
Pain and numbness in the patient's lip and chin following a routine dental procedure.
As in the medical profession, dental professionals are legally responsible for injuries that are a direct result of their providing improper dental treatment, failing to diagnose dental disease and misdiagnosis of oral diseases and disorders. There is a dental standard of care to which all dentists are held when providing treatment to their patients. When their care falls below this standard, they are liable for dental malpractice.
More and more dental malpractice claims are being filed as patients are becoming more aware of their rights. There are many other claims, which are unreported due to people's lack of awareness that they have remedies when they have been harmed by negligent conduct on the part of their dentists. Seeking counsel with a dental malpractice attorney is the best way to ensure that your injuries are fully redressed.
by: Sunil Punjabi
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