Dental Malpractice: Issues To Be Worried About As A Patient

Dental malpractice has occurred when a dental health care professional provides treatment that does not met the acceptable standard of care, and as a result, the patient is injured.  In most cases dentists usually work hard to ensure their patients are well cared for.  However, there are times when preventable mistakes are made.  Cases of dental malpractice and dental error include:

• Failing to inform the patient of every available treatment option and their associated risks and benefits.
• Failing to refer a patient to a specialist.
• Failure to properly diagnose oral cancer or gum disease.
• Improperly placing dental implants, resulting in nerve damage.
• Medication error.
• Failure to diagnose or control infections.
• Failing to perform an oral exam that is complete and thorough.
• Using materials or products that are faulty.
• Improperly administering antibiotics before a dental surgical procedure.
• Substandard dental procedures resulting from malalignment of teeth or bite malocclusion.
• Injury and infection to the jaw, face, and gum due to faulty root canals, implants, crowns, veneers, or dental bridges.
• Negligent orthodontic treatment or restorative procedures resulting in injury to the temporomandibular joint.
• Faulty restorations resulting in tooth loss.

If you have been a victim of dental malpractice, you may have suffered a serious injury such as:

• Numbness and nerve damage
• Chronic, debilitating pain
• Loss of teeth and bone support
• Gum disease
• Loss of taste
• Unnecessary extractions
• Oral infections

An experienced Kingston, New York dental malpractice lawyer will help you to obtain a complete copy of your dental records.  Under the law you are entitled to your records.  Some records may need to be requested separately because they may not be kept in the dental chart.  Records such as the ledger and account history are most likely kept in the computer.  Additionally, x-rays will need to be duplicated and obtained, as well as the progress notes, copies of prescriptions, copies of referral slips, and other records.

Dental experts will also need to be hired while investigating your dental malpractice case.  These experts help to determine whether your injuries are the result of malpractice.  If this is the case, they will also help to determine how the malpractice caused the injuries.  The dental experts will study your dental records, research to determine the issues at stake, help determine strategy, investigate every potential defendant, draft documents that will be filed with the court, and help to manage your lawsuit to ensure that you are receiving the help necessary for a full recovery.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.