Dental malpractice cases happen far more often than we may realize. Most Americans rely heavily on the dentist to ensure that they have good hygiene and healthy teeth. When we go into a dentist’s office, we are putting all of our trust that the entire office, from the hygienists to the dentists themselves, will treat us with the utmost of care. Every dental office has a responsibility to maintain a standard of practice that ensures their patient’s safety, over everything else. Most of the time, this is the case. However, just based off of the sheer number of patients every year that go to the dentists, at dental malpractice is almost inevitable. Unfortunately, every year there are numerous malpractice suits as a result of a mistake on the part of the dental office. If you or someone you know believes they have suffered an injury from dental malpractice, do not hesitate to reach out to Cohen & Cohen, a leading law firm successfully serving Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, and nearby areas for years.
What is dental malpractice?
A lot of people are often confused as to what dental malpractice means. Legally speaking, dental malpractice is when you suffer an injury as a result of negligence or poor misconduct by the dentists and their employees. While every case is different, there are common trends among cases that distinguish a dentist acting in his or her best interest versus negligent conduct. Some of the more common ways a dental malpractice can occur include (but are not limited to):
- A miscalculated dosage of anesthesia
- Failure to hire and/or see employees of the dental office (such as hygienists)
- Failure to diagnose various dental conditions
- Poor extracting teeth
- Not informing the patient properly of the procedure
Regardless of the cause, a dental malpractice injury can have serious long-term or even permanent consequences. It is the responsibility of the dentists to ensure your safety, and when they fail to do that, a lawsuit may be taken.
What are some effects of dental malpractice?
Dental malpractice can cause various physical damages. Depending on the severity of the accident, the resulting injury may vary in pain, permanence, and impact. Some common examples of injuries that result from dental malpractice include:
- Damage to the gums (and surrounding tissue)
- Chipping of the teeth
- Extracting the wrong tooth
- Damaging the nerves
- Causing serious sinus damage
All these injuries can inflict serious pain on an individual. It is important you get your fair compensation when you endure these injuries.
How can a lawyer help?
In addition to the emotional stress they can cause, injuries are also expensive. It is no surprise that the medical system of the United States is costly. Having to care for further injury at the dentists can pose a serious financial burden on both the victims and their families. Hiring a professional attorney will only make the process smoother for you, and will help you have someone on your side fighting for your fair compensation.
Do not hesitate to reach out to Cohen & Cohen and we will be more than happy to set you up with a dental malpractice lawyer on our team.
