If you’ve experienced poor dental treatment that didn’t meet the expected standards, you might be wondering how to claim back dentist fees. In many cases, it’s as simple as submitting a complaint to your practice; however, if the practice refuses to issue a refund and the poor treatment has led to unnecessary pain and suffering, you might decide to start a dental negligence claim against your dentist.
In this blog, we’ll talk you through the step-by-step process of how to claim back your dentist fees if you’ve experienced dental negligence.
In all cases if you have experienced dental negligence you are not required to make a formal complaint first to your dental practice before pursuing a claim. Thinking about opening a dental negligence claim against your dentist? Fill out our online contact form or give us a call on 0800 152 2038.
Step 1: Make a complaint to your practice
If you’re trying to get a refund for poor dental treatment, the first step is to submit a complaint to your practice.
All dental practices, whether NHS or private, should have a published complaints procedure – look for this on their website, or ask the receptionist to provide you with this information. In most cases, there will be a practice manager or a dedicated complaints manager who you can contact.
You should explain why you believe the treatment you received was poor and make your desired outcome clear, stating the refund amount that you’re expecting.
In many cases, submitting a complaint will be all you need to do to get your money back. The practice manager will likely examine your dental records and, if it’s clear that something went wrong with your treatment, issue you a refund as requested. They may require additional information from you before processing your request, but they’ll let you know if this is the case.
Step 2: Complain to the Dental Complaints Service or the NHS
If your complaint to your dental practice is unsuccessful, the next step is to make a more formal complaint to either the Dental Complaints Service (DCS) or the NHS, depending on whether the treatment you received was through a private or NHS practice.
Complaints for NHS dental treatment
If your NHS dental practice has not resolved your complaint and issued the refund you asked for, you can complain to your local integrated care board (ICB).
If you’re not happy with their response, you can take the issue further by raising it with the relevant Ombudsman:
- Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in England
- Public Services Ombudsman for Wales in Wales
Bear in mind that the Ombudsman can only deal with your complaint after you’ve followed the complaints procedure at your local practice or ICB.
Complaints for private dental treatment
If your dental practice is private, you’ll need to contact the Dental Complaints Service (DCS) to escalate your complaint. The DCS can help you resolve the issue and support discussions which may lead to you being offered a refund.
If you received your treatment through a private dental plan, you should contact the plan provider and follow their complaints process.
Step 3: Start a dental negligence claim
If escalating your complaint still doesn’t help you get your refund, or you think you may be entitled to additional compensation for the dental negligence you’ve suffered, the final step is to start a dental negligence claim against your dentist.
There are many types of dental negligence that can entitle you to compensation, including:
- Injury: Where poor treatment has caused you injuries such as nerve damage, tooth damage, or infection.
- Failure to diagnose: Where your dentist failed to diagnose a dental condition despite regular check-ups, causing the condition to worsen.
- Failure to obtain consent: Where your dentist has not properly informed you of the risks or alternatives of a treatment before performing it.
At the Dental Law Partnership, we’ve helped thousands of clients get the compensation they deserve for negligent dental treatment. If your claim is successful, you’ll get your money back for any poor treatment you paid for, as well as additional compensation for things like remedial treatment and emotional damages.
Read more about how the claims process works or get in touch with us to find out whether you’ve got a valid case.
Claim back fees for poor dental treatment with the Dental Law Partnership
When you’ve suffered as a result of dental treatment that doesn’t meet the required standards, the very least you deserve is a full refund.
Get the compensation you deserve with the Dental Law Partnership – we work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means you’ll pay nothing if your claim is unsuccessful.
Our team is made up of both dentists and solicitors, so you can rest assured that we’ll fully understand both the legal and medical aspects of your case.
Ready to get the ball rolling with your claim? Contact the Dental Law team today.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim back private dental costs?
Yes, dental private costs can be claimed back if you’ve suffered dental negligence. You can start by making a complaint to your dental practice or the Dental Complaints Service (DCS), or you can get the ball rolling straight away and make a dental negligence claim against your dentist.
How long do I have to make a dental negligence claim?
If you decide to sue your dentist for negligence, you’ll have three years to start the claim from the date the negligent act occurred, or three years from the date you became aware of the negligence.
There are, however, two notable exceptions to this rule:
- The three-year deadline does not apply to children – they will have three years to make a claim from the date they turn 18.
- The deadline does not apply if an adult lacks the mental capacity to manage their claim – this could be due to brain injury or illness, for example. In these cases, the three-year imitation period does not start until they (or if they) regain capacity.
How much compensation can I receive?
The amount of compensation you’ll receive from your dental negligence claim depends on a number of factors, including:
- The nature of the claim
- The severity of the injury
- Whether or not remedial treatment was needed to rectify the issue
To get a better idea of how much compensation you might receive, see our blog: How Much Can I Claim for Dental Negligence?