Typical Grounds For Dental Malpractice Lawsuits

When you visit your dentist, you expect to receive quality care from a qualified medical provider. However, some people are injured when they receive dental services by the negligent actions of the dentist or dentistry staff. If you were injured by a dentist, it is important that you understand your rights and the grounds that you must have in order to have a viable claim and the ability to receive compensation from your dental provider.

Medical Procedures Leading To Dental Malpractice Lawsuits

While any dental procedure can potentially lead to a dental malpractice lawsuit, some of the more common dental procedures that lead to litigation include the following:

  • Anesthesia procedures
  • Braces
  • Bridges
  • Crowns
  • Defective medical devices
  • Dental implants
  • Extractions
  • Oral cancer treatment
  • Root canals

An experienced dental malpractice lawyer in Fairfield County, Connecticut, from MeehanLaw, LLC, can evaluate what went wrong during your dental procedure to determine if you have a viable dental malpractice lawsuit.

Mistakes Involved In Dental Malpractice Lawsuits

Some of the more frequent mistakes that lead to dental malpractice lawsuits include the following:

  • Failure to diagnosis – One of the most common causes of medical malpractice cases is the failure of a medical provider to properly diagnose a condition. The same is true in dental malpractice cases. The dentist may fail to diagnose a patient with periodontal disease, oral cancer or another medical condition that causes injury or pain to the patient.
  • Anesthesia errors – Giving a patient too much or too little anesthesia can result in pain or other adverse side effects.
  • Adverse drug reactions – Failing to get a patient’s drug history or keep a record of current medication they are taking can result in adverse drug reactions.
  • Broken jaw or tooth – A patient’s jaw may break during dental surgery, which may be caused by a dentist’s negligence. A tooth may break or become chipped during a procedure due to a slip or other mistake and can damage another tooth or the gums.
  • Perforation – If a dentist does not perform a dental procedure properly, a bur or tooth fragment can perforate the patient’s sinuses, possibly resulting in an infection that is serious enough to require hospitalization.
  • Nerve damage – Extractions or root canals that are not performed correctly can result in painful nerve damage. In extreme cases, nerve damage may result in paresthesia (mild to severe tingling and intermittent numbness); anesthesia (total numbness); or dysesthesia (painful sensations combined with paresthesia or anesthesia). In other situations, it causes a loss of taste, tingling or pain.
  • Failure for evaluation of nerve damage – The dentist must also evaluate the patient for any potential signs of nerve damage after the procedure. If they fail to do so, the patient could miss out on receiving immediate medical attention.
  • Lack of implied consent – A dentist must obtain a patient’s consent after fully consulting about the necessity for a procedure, alternatives and potential side effects.

Contact MeehanLaw, LLC, For Help With Your Dental Malpractice Lawsuit

If you were injured by the negligent acts of your dentist, it is important that you have the assistance of an aggressive Fairfield County dental malpractice lawyer. Dental malpractice cases are complex and require the assistance of a qualified experienced dental attorney. Our dental malpractice lawyers have a breadth of knowledge and skill in this intricate area of the law and they will work quickly to secure the compensation you deserve. Call us at 203-989-2949 or contact us online to schedule a free case review.