Dental negligence occurs when the standard of care by a dental professional falls below the expected standard in the industry, this can include any instances involving incorrect, delayed or poor treatment that has led to further injury or suffering. It can be defined as an avoidable injury caused by a dentist who has performed poorly, negligently or inappropriately, which has resulted in harm being caused to a patient.
In 2024, The Dental Law Partnership successfully settled over 400 cases of dental negligence, with compensation awards of up to £71,000. This included claims of failed treatment, dental neglect, failed diagnosis, poor orthodontics treatment and so much more. You can read more client stories and their experience of the negligence claims process here.
So how long do I have to make a dental negligence claim?
The time limit for making a dental negligence claim is three years from the date the negligence occurred, or from when you first became aware of the negligence. There are exceptions for patients under the age of 18 (whose three-year window starts from their eighteenth birthday) and those suffering from mental illness (whose three years start from their recovery from the illness).
Dental negligence claims are not always straightforward and the process of gathering evidence can take some considerable time; therefore, it’s always recommended that those who feel they might have a claim, should seek expert dental legal representation as soon as possible. You read and understand more about our claims process in our most recent blog Dental Negligence Claims Explained.
We would always advise if you’re unsure if you have a claim or not to call and the team will always clear up any doubt for you in terms of whether you may or may not have a negligence claim or point you in the direction of the appropriate information. It costs nothing to get a little advice and its always better to be certain.
You can call The Dental Law Partnership today on 08001522036 or fill out our online contact form.