Dental Negligence - Stupid Decisions Under The White Light
Mumtaz Shah
Whether it's down to the decaying services being provided by the UK's National Health Service (NHS) or because more of us are aware of the benefits of dental surgery, what is indisputable is that there are more compensation cases for dental negligence than at any other time in our history.
So, if you have been on the wrong end of a particularly nasty piece of dental surgery recently, how would you go about making a dental negligence claim?
Dental Negligence Solicitor
Even though some experts will tell you that the standard for establishing a claim of negligence involving dental surgery is easier than in other areas of medical negligence. There are less things that can go wrong in dental surgery than in hospital surgery, this is still a very technical area of personal injury law.
As such, top of your list of priorities following the dental procedure in question should be a visit to see a dental negligence solicitor. The solicitor should then tell you whether or not you have a personal injury claim to make against the dentist who did the botch!
In the event that you cannot afford a compensation solicitor, don't worry too much about this as most dental negligence solicitors these days are more than willing to agree to work for you on a no win no fee basis.
Basically, under a no win no fee structure, you will not be liable for the cost of retaining your solicitor because, should you lose, he has agreed not to be paid, and should you win, he'll be paid by your opponent.
Establishing Who To Sue
At your preliminary meeting with your dental negligence solicitor you'll need to determine who you are going to sue. As, in the UK, we have a dual system of dental care, between the private sector and the public sector, with many dentists practicing in both. Before you can submit your dental negligence claim you need to establish whether you saw the dentist in the capacity of a patient under the NHS system, or as a private patient of the dentist.
In the event that you saw the dentist as a private patient, then in all likelihood you will not be suing the dentist for compensation, but rather the dentist's insurance company! On the other hand, if you were visiting the dentist as a patient under the NHS system, then, again, you would not be suing the dentist for negligent compensation, but the NHS itself.
Standard Of Care
Generally the accepted reasoning is that dentistry is a 'tried-and-tested' profession where things can only go wrong if the practitioner has made a mistake. Nonetheless, as with all personal injury claims in the UK, you will need to establish that the dentist owed you a duty of care and was not diligent in undertaking his duties.
In this regard, so far as dental negligence is concerned, any dental negligence claim will need to show that the dentist did not exercise the professional standards set by the British Dental Association and/or the Dental Practice Board.
It's Your Right - Claim It!
You may feel that a claim for dental negligence compensation is a little trite - after all, it's not the end of the world! However, keep in mind two factors:
* even if it is the case that the dentist pulled the wrong tooth or gave you a filling you didn't need, if you are an adult that tooth will never grow back and it has gone forever!
* dental negligence does not only cover the simple pulling of teeth, it also includes complex procedures such as root-canals and gum treatment. These procedures can not only be extremely expensive, but also extremely painful.
Beside that, if you do not retain a dental negligence solicitor and take action against a negligent dentist for dental negligence compensation, then the next person to sit in the same dentist's chair may have the same experience as the one you just had!
About the author:
It's easy to proceed with a dental
negligence claim and gain maximum results without the
hassle, costs and confusion. Discover the 12 revolutions of
dental claims at http://www.100percent-compensation.co.uk
The latest information and news on Dental Care Advice :
Over the last decade, Dr. Robin Feltoon has made a healthy living by renovating her patients? mouths. In becoming sole owner of Holly Tree Dental in Hanover in January, Feltoon also took a close look inside the business itself.
Dental Marketing a Profitable Investment for Educated Dentists (PR.com)
To find patients in tough times, dentists are turning to dental directory marketing and dentist website campaigns for their dental marketing. Jim Du Molin offers a no-cost video tutorial. [PR.com - September 07, 2008]
Financial Analysis of Dental Website Marketing Campaigns (PR.com)
Internet dental marketing can be a great way for dental practices to improve their bottom line, but a good return on investment demands proper dental website search engine optimization. [PR.com - September 07, 2008]
Health district welcomes new dental director (The Moultrie Observer)
Olivia Taylor, who has more than 20 years of experience in dentistry, including dental research, has joined the staff of the Southwest Health District as director of dental services.
Supermarket trials in-store dental service (TVNZ)
A British supermarket chain has come up with a novel way to get shoppers through the door, offering them the chance to get their teeth fixed while picking up their groceries.
Dental fillings without gaps (News-Medical-Net)
Tooth cavities are usually closed with plastic fillings. However, the initially soft plastic shrinks as it hardens. The tension can cause gaps to appear between the tooth and the filling, encouraging more caries to form. For the first time, researchers have simulated this process.
More often, employees given choice of dental, vision plans (BizJournals)
As workers gear up for their annual health benefits open enrollment period, they need to look beyond the basic plans.
Dental hygiene students can brighten your smile (The Times of Northwest Indiana)
B y Times Staff CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Prairie State College?s Dental Hygiene Department is looking for community clients to participate in its annual Periodontal Clinic. The clinic enhances the dental hygiene students? clinical learning experience. For a $35 fee, each client gets a full set of X-rays, impressions of the mouth, a consultation with the periodontist on staff, and a thorough cleaning by ...
Don't be prejudiced by graphic pictures, jury told (NZPA via Yahoo!Xtra News)
A High Court judge has told a jury to ensure graphic pictures of a woman killed in a dental centre fire last year do not prejudice them against the man accused of her murder.
Poor economy draw parents and children to free health and dental screenings e...
Dozens of parents and children lined up early Saturday for free child health screenings at the Fairground Complex.