Blog submitted by Dane Levy Attorney of www.Dentalmal.com, a provider of legal services for those injured by dental malpractice in California
Dental malpractice is a form of medical malpractice that deals with injuries that occur after a visit to the dentist. In most cases, the dentist is guilty of negligence and misconduct. However, in some cases, patients have been intentionally harmed, for example when a patient is molested when he/she is under sedation.
Types of Dental Injuries
Nerve injury – jaw, lips, tongue
Anesthesia injuries/deaths
Injury to the jaw bones
Injury from a faulty crown/ bridge – teeth/gums
TMJ resulting from orthodontic treatment
Injuries or infection resulting from use of dental products
Types of Dental Malpractice
These lawsuits can sue the dentists, orthodontists, periodontists, and oral surgeons for any of the following reasons:
Failure to diagnose conditions – For example oral cancer, periodontal disease
Failure to advise patient
Improper diagnosis
Lack of consent from the patient
Error during procedures that cause injury to the patient
Medication errors
Dental malpractice Lawsuits
In order to prove and receive a dental malpractice claim, the patient will have to prove that the dentist acted in a negligent manner. To prove the dentist’s negligence, four elements need to be proven:
The duty of care – The dentist should have provided competent care.
Breach of duty – The dentist did not provide competent dental care.
Injury – The patient was injured during the dental procedure
Proximate cause – The patient’s injury was a result of the dentist’s breach of duty.
If you or a loved one has been harmed at the hands of a dentist, it is advisable to contact an experienced dental malpractice lawyer.
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If you suspect something like dental implant injury, contact a malpractice attorney Los Angeles immediately for dental malpractice information.