Regular dental visits are important for protecting oral health and preventing unwanted issues like cavities, gingivitis, and tooth loss. As a patient, you expect your dentist to exercise the greatest care when it comes to cleanings, extractions, and other dental procedures.
Unfortunately, you may not receive the standard of care you deserve, potentially resulting in a range of issues. Dental malpractice is a form of personal injury that could leave you with temporary or permanent medical concerns. It could even result in death.
The average settlement in a dental malpractice case is around $81,000, while a wrongful death could result in a settlement over $476,000. What are some of the most common types of dental malpractice that lead to settlements for patients?
Common Types Of Dental Malpractice
Dental errors seem to be most common during more complex procedures like root canals, tooth extractions, or dental implants. In some cases, negligence contributes to the outcomes. This could include negligent behavior during treatment or issues like false guarantees or failure to obtain informed consent from the patient before a procedure.
Some common reasons for dental malpractice claims include:
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Accidental tissue perforation
- Treating the wrong tooth
- Anesthesia errors
One long-term study found that during a 20-year span, over a billion patients suffered some form of traumatic dental injury. Below are some common issues that may be caused by dental malpractice.
Infections
Nearly any dental procedure has the potential to result in infection. Even during a basic dental cleaning, your gums could get cut, exposing you to infection, although it’s more likely during an invasive procedure like a root canal or tooth extraction.
Not all cases of infection constitute malpractice. Dental standards require professionals to take steps to clean and disinfect the area being treated, and they may prescribe antibiotics as a preventive measure for oral surgery. However, if you suffer an infection due to negligence, you may have a case for dental malpractice.
Nerve Damage
The maxillary and mandibular nerves, which run through the upper and lower jaw, as well as the palate and sinuses, are responsible for providing motor function and sensory information in these areas of the mouth and face.
Intensive dental procedures like root canals, tooth extractions, and dental implants could result in surgical errors that cause nerve damage.
Accidental Tissue Perforation
Dental professionals work in tight spaces with sharp tools, so it’s no surprise that accidental perforations of soft tissue like the gums, tongue, cheek, or sinus cavity can occur. Even so, this could be considered a negligent act if a breach of duty leads to harm.
Treating The Wrong Tooth
There’s almost no excuse for this type of surgical error. A dental professional might not be liable for such an error if the patient incorrectly identified the site of pain, for example. Even so, the dentist would have to double-check with an oral exam and tests like X-rays to find the cause of pain, thereby identifying the appropriate site for treatment.
Anesthesia Errors
Several dental procedures might require the use of anesthesia. Unfortunately, anesthesia errors can cause any number of issues for patients, including death.
Seek Help For Dental Malpractice
If you believe you’ve been the victim of dental malpractice resulting in actual harm or losses, you could seek compensation to cover economic damages like medical costs, lost wages, and non-economic damages in some cases. A qualified attorney can assess your case and guide you through the process of negotiating a settlement or taking your case to court.
Contact the Atlanta Medical Malpractice Law Firm of Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you or a close one have suffered from medical malpractice in Atlanta, Georgia, please call Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers at (770) 390-7550 or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation today.
We proudly serve in Fulton County.
Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers
2 Ravinia Dr NE Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30346