Just as people visit doctors to treat and prevent many different medical issues, they also visit dentists to protect their oral health and seek treatment when there are problems. Dental procedures are typically very safe and can contribute to a person’s overall health. Unfortunately, dentists and their staff members sometimes make mistakes which can result in further harm to the patient. If you have become injured after visiting a dentist, it is important to know what constitutes dental malpractice, and how to make things right.
What is Dental Malpractice?
Dental malpractice is a form of medical malpractice. If you have been injured, you can file a lawsuit to recover damages for past and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. When filing a lawsuit, you must prove the dentist did not follow the standard of care required by the profession, and that the breach of that duty caused your injuries.
Negligence, and the standard of care dentists must provide to patients often comes up in dental malpractice cases. When a dental provider has failed to meet their duty of care and you become injured as a result, you may be able to file a lawsuit. It is important to note that you cannot sue simply because you were unhappy with the results. The dentist must have acted negligently, and you must be able to prove that fact.
Common Types of Dental Malpractice
Any time a dentist or part of the dental team is negligent, it can result in a dental malpractice claim. However, there are some types of this malpractice that are more common than others. These include:
- Failure to treat or diagnose a dental condition
- Failure to detect a malformation or an oral disease
- Failure to sterilize dental or surgical tools
- Installing defective dental products
- Failure to review or regularly update a patient’s medical history
- Causing injury to a patient due to negligence, such as if a surgical tool cuts an area of the mouth, resulting in a severed nerve or a perforated sinus cavity
Any time a dentist commits any of these common types of dental malpractice, it can result in serious injury.
Common Injuries Caused by Dental Malpractice
The injuries caused by dental malpractice are often very painful, require additional treatment to correct, and it may take a patient a long time to recover from them. The most common injuries caused by dental malpractice are as follows:
- Tissue and nerve damage
- Damage to the structure of the mouth, such as jaw injuries
- Injury or illness that results from a failure to detect an oral disease, such as oral cancer
- Infections
- Trauma to the tooth
Any time you suffer these injuries, or any other, as a result of dental malpractice it is important to speak to a personal injury lawyer that can help you claim the compensation you deserve.
Call Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Pennsylvania Today
No one should suffer an injury after seeking medical help, and that includes when they visit a dentist. If you have been the victim of dental malpractice, our Allentown personal injury lawyers are here to help. At van der Veen, Hartshorn, Levin & Lindheim, we know how to hold dental providers accountable when they have used harm, and we will help you recover the full compensation you need. Call us today at (215) 486-0123 or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation and to learn more about how we can help with your case.