If you’ve suffered as a result of poor dental treatment and are thinking of making a negligence claim, it can be helpful to know the most recent dental malpractice statistics.
In this blog, you’ll find the top dental malpractice claims statistics for 2025, including the Dental Law Partnership’s latest settlement figures, to help you understand how likely your dental negligence claim is to be successful and how much compensation you might be eligible to receive.
Think you’ve got a claim? Get in touch with the Dental Law Partnership today for a free initial consultation.
Top general dental malpractice statistics for 2025
- According to the Dental Complaints Service, the number of new cases opened more than doubled from 466 in 2023 to 1,102 in 2024 (+137%).
- Cases resolved increased from 465 in 2023 to 985 in 2024 (+111%).
- Refunds issued increased from approximately £400,500 in 2023 to approximately £670,500 in 2024.
- Fitness‑to‑Practise referrals following complaints rose to 59 in 2024, a 293% increase over the previous year (source: Dentistry).
- According to Medical Negligence Assist, a record number of patients are complaining to the NHS Ombudsman about poor care.
- In the last five years, the NHS has paid out £4.2 million in dental negligence claims.
- The most common claim type was ‘dental damage’, which accounted for 95 settled cases and cost the NHS £1.29 million.
- Overall, dental negligence claims have cost the NHS more than £11m in the last five years (source: The Dentist).
What can we take away from these statistics?
These statistics show that there has been a sharp rise in dental complaints and dental negligence cases in recent years, suggesting growing patient dissatisfaction and lower tolerance for care that doesn’t meet the minimum standard. What’s more, the significant number of refunds issued and payouts made suggests that many of these claims were substantiated, which means the claimants were able to prove that dental malpractice really did occur.
If you’ve suffered as a result of dental malpractice, these statistics are promising – they suggest you have a better chance than ever of getting justice and compensation for the poor treatment you received.
Think you’ve got a dental negligence claim? Get in touch with the Dental Law Partnership today and we’ll review the details of your case to see if you’re entitled to compensation.
The Dental Law Partnership: Our latest dental malpractice claims statistics
At the Dental Law Partnership, we settle hundreds of dental malpractice claims each year, helping our clients get the justice and compensation they deserve.
Below, you’ll find our latest settlement statistics for 2025, giving you an idea of how much compensation you could be awarded if you choose to start a dental negligence claim.
| Case Type | Average Settlement | Biggest Settlement Figure |
| Endodontics | £7,250 | £50,000 |
| Neglect | £9,800 | £37,500 |
| Oral Surgery | £12,050 | £60,000 |
| Implants | £13,850 | £45,000 |
| Crown & Bridge | £10,250 | £71,000 |
| Periodontics | £14,700 | £46,250 |
| Restorative | £7,450 | £28,000 |
| Misdiagnosis | £7,800 | £20,000 |
| Consent | £7,250 | £15,500 |
| Orthodontics | £12,000 | £52,500 |
| Cosmetic | £13,700 | £34,000 |
What can we take away from these statistics?
No matter what type of dental negligence you’ve suffered – whether dental injury or a failure to diagnose – you have a good chance of receiving significant financial compensation if you make a claim through the Dental Law Partnership.
While settlements always vary depending on the unique details of each case, we operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means you won’t be any worse off if your claim is unsuccessful.
Wondering how much compensation you could be entitled to for your specific claim? Take a look at our case studies to see how cases similar to yours have been settled.
Start your dental negligence claim today and get the justice you deserve
Have you suffered as a result of dental malpractice? If so, you might be eligible to open a claim against your dentist. Dental negligence includes:
- Injury during treatment, such as nerve damage or infections after dental work.
- Failure to diagnose a serious oral health condition such as gum disease or oral cancer, despite regular check ups and dental evidence.
- Misdiagnosis of a condition, resulting in incorrect (or no) treatment being given and the original condition worsening.
- Failure to obtain patient consent, where the patient was not fully informed about the proposed treatment, the risks involved, and any alternative treatments.
At the Dental Law Partnership, our team is made up of both solicitors and dentists, ensuring you receive accurate, professional advice from experts who understand both the legal and dental aspects of your case.
We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means you won’t pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful.
Fill out our online contact form with a brief description of your case and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible to discuss the details and let you know if you have a valid claim.