Have You or a Loved One Been the Victim of Dental Malpractice?

Dental malpractice does not make the headlines as often as other types of medical procedures. However, it does exist and dentists, like physicians and anesthesiologists, purchase dental malpractice insurance through the same providers that physicians do. In Washington State, approximately one patient dies ever year because of dental treatment.

Dental malpractice may take some of the following forms:

• Failure to diagnose an oral cancer, a gum disease or problem with a tooth, making an incorrect diagnosis or unreasonably delaying a diagnosis. One of a dentists jobs is to perform a thorough mouth exam when a patient goes in for x-rays and cleaning. Sometimes to save money, the dentist will leave the dental hygienist to do all of the patient care and will neglect an exam and maybe miss discovering a cancer, gum disease or infection.

• Anesthesia used in dental surgery can sometimes cause complications. The dentist should properly assess the patient including a patient history, ask about allergies to medications and provide proper monitoring and staff when the patient undergoes anesthesia for dental surgery. Failure to do any of these things could result in a patient death or brain damage. According to the State Board of Dentistry, the dentist should be using licensed assistants when using anesthesia with patients.

• A bad outcome because of an oral surgery which led to permanent and lasting damage to facial or tongue nerves, damage to muscles and damage to the tongue may be dental malpractice. Sometimes the patient has damage to their nerves or tongue which results in difficulty in speech, loss of taste and difficulty in swallowing or eating.

• Infection can be a bad outcome of any dental procedure. The dentist should be following the correct procedures for sterilizing all equipment and  the dentist should be able to diagnose an infection and treat it immediately and properly. The dentist should have a proper system of being able to be reached after-hours in case an infection begins so that the patient can begin treatment.

• Extractions gone awry is another form of dental malpractice. If a dentist pulls a healthy tooth instead of a decayed one, then that is malpractice just as a surgeon removing the wrong kidney is. Or, if the dentist removes a tooth without your consent and without providing you with alternatives, you might have a case of dental malpractice.

• Orthodontics are an area where there can be dental malpractice. If the orthodontist extracted teeth when it wasn't warranted or if the patient has severe TMJ or headaches due to orthodontia,then the patient might have a case.

Dental malpractice can be caused by several factors including cost-cutting measures, a lack of knowledge or skill, inexperience, a lack of preparation, miscommunication, fatigue, hate or just plain negligence.

If you are the victim of dental malpractice, contact The Farber Law Group. At the Farber Law Group, we are experienced in representing the victims of negligent doctors and helping victims recover compensation for their injuries, or those of a loved one.

Please contact us for a free consultation.