Common Examples of Dental Malpractice

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Examples of Dental Malpractice When Hospital Accident Lawyers in Maryland May Be Able to Help

Hospital accident lawyers Maryland dental patients can trust may be able to help you with problems that are the result of medical or hospital malpractice that occured in Maryland.

United States dentists perform over 500 million procedures a year. Sometimes those dentists commit malpractice even when they have the best of intentions. Like a physician or a surgeon, many dentists perform surgeries and other hospital procedures on a regular basis even though they typically are not done in a hospital setting. Here are some of the most prevalent examples of dental malpractice:

1. Tooth extractions can be complicated in a few ways:

• A perforation of the sinuses during the extraction.
• Infections.
• If nerve damage occurs, there is a possibility it could become permanent.
• A dentist may not refer the patient to the appropriate after procedure care which could cause more pain and discomfort.

If you are in pain and/or experiencing complications that are the result of something a dentist did while in the state of Maryland, it may be in your best interest to discuss your situation with hospital accident lawyers who are licensed to practice in Maryland.

2. Failing to recognize oral cancer. Cancer patients have the best outcome when they detect it early on. Monitoring for cancer is one of a general dentist’s most important jobs. At first, oral cancer appears as pain or discomfort in the face or mouth. A dentist should be able to recognize the signs and refer a patient to the appropriate tests. Dentists should also be aware of the risks of certain lifestyle choices such as smoking, that can contribute to the possibility of getting oral cancer. Genetics can also play a role in this. Because of all these factors, a dentist should perform regular cancer screenings for their patients.

If a dentist is negligent and fails to detect cancer when it could have been, it may be considered medical malpractice and the victim of this may be entitled to compensation. Hospital accident lawyers in Maryland may be able to help you determine whether or not this is true for your situation.

3. Adverse Reactions to Drugs. Sometimes medicine is administered during dental procedures and if dentists do not administer them properly then patients can have adverse reactions. Reactions vary from allergic reactions to respiratory depression which can be fatal even though this is often avoidable. A dentist should gather a full medical history before treating the patient. Anything less than full understanding of a patient’s medical history may be considered malpractice and warrant the help of hospital accident lawyers in Maryland or wherever the malpractice occurred.
4. Crowns and other restorative procedures. One common way that a dentist can fail to meet the standard of care when applying a crown is called “overcontour”. This means that the crown is bigger than the natural size of the tooth which can trap bacteria in ways that lead to gum disease. If the tooth is not restored to the proper size it can grind and cause pain and spasms. Another problem that can occur is failing to leave enough space between teeth for flossing. If you can’t floss then bacteria will build up and cause more problems.

While many visits to the dentist are not problematic for the patient, unfortunately some visits create a need for hospital accident lawyers who are licensed to practice in Maryland.

5. Misdiagnosis. Misdiagnosing or failing to diagnose a patient when symptoms are present may lead to severe complications and lasting medical issues. A misdiagnosis can hurt a patient because they will endure unnecessary procedures for a problem they don’t have. Dentists can also commit malpractice by recommending treatments that patients don’t need. For example, a crown is primarily used when tooth decay is present. If a crown is placed on a tooth for any reason other than this, it could amount to malpractice and a need for Maryland hospital accident lawyers.

If you are concerned about any dental care, contact a medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your options.

For hospital accident lawyers Maryland dental malpractice victims can turn to for help, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case consultation and evaluation.