Have your veneers gone wrong? Dental veneers (which involve placing a thin tooth-coloured shell over a tooth), are a popular procedure for people searching for the perfect smile, but the consequences can be far-reaching if something goes wrong. If you’ve undergone veneer treatment and your cosmetic dentist acted negligently, you may be able to open a dental negligence claim against them.
At the Dental Law Partnership, we’re experts in the world of dental negligence, aiming to use our industry knowledge to help every client who works with us. If you’ve experienced negligence at the hands of a dental professional, we may be able to help you claim compensation.
To get started with your dental negligence claim, please reach out to our team on 0800 152 2034.
Veneers: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Dental veneers are thin layers of tooth-coloured material designed to cover the front surface of your natural teeth, enhancing their appearance to provide a perfect smile. Typically considered to be a form of cosmetic dental procedure, veneers are usually made from either porcelain or composite resin.
Porcelain veneers tend to be custom-made and are more expensive than composite veneers, porcelain veneers will mimic the look of your natural tooth. However, composite veneers are perfectly adequate for patients wanting a more cost-effective form of cosmetic dentistry, so long as you maintain good oral hygiene habits. Veneer procedures can address various dental issues – here are the main reasons for undergoing this form of cosmetic treatment:
- Discoloured teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Crooked or uneven teeth
- Gaps in your teeth
- Protruding teeth
Veneer procedures usually involve removing a small amount of enamel from the natural tooth surface to fit the veneer, which is then fixed to your tooth using a special dental adhesive glue. If your dental veneers are fitted correctly, they should result in a natural-looking improvement to your smile that can last for many years with proper upkeep and oral hygiene.
Veneers Gone Wrong: Recognising the Signs of Dental Negligence
Understanding the signs of dental negligence is important when undergoing any dental treatment. All dental professionals have a duty of care to their patients – if negligence occurs, you may be able to open a compensation claim against your dentist. Recognising the early signs of bad veneers is crucial for addressing potential dental negligence and seeking remedial treatment if further injury has occurred.
Common signs of veneers gone wrong include:
- Broken veneers
- Severe discomfort or tooth pain after preparing the teeth for veneers or after having them fitted
- Uneven colour match
- Issues with your bite alignment
You may also notice excessive sensitivity or an unnatural look to your veneers, which could indicate that something has gone wrong. In most cases, you’ll find that several different forms of negligence have occurred at once. For example, you may also find that your dentist has failed to provide the right veneer treatment, or has failed to gain informed consent from you before your veneer treatment.
If you have broken or unattractive veneers as a result of your dentist doing a substandard job or having neglected their duty of care responsibilities during treatment, you may be eligible to open a dental negligence claim.
The Impact of Poorly Fitted Veneers on Your Oral Health
Poorly fitted veneers can have a major impact on your oral health – regardless of whether you’ve had porcelain veneers or composite veneers fitted. Cosmetic dental treatments are often seen as less serious than other forms of dental work, but negligent cosmetic treatments can still have far-reaching consequences.
Poorly fitted veneers can have a detrimental impact on your oral health, even if you practise good oral hygiene techniques. If your veneers are misaligned, this can lead to issues with your bite position, which may cause jaw pain after dental work and difficulty when chewing. If your veneers are not fitted properly, gaps may be created between the tooth and your veneer. Bacteria can then enter these gaps, which can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
These potential risks highlight that recognising and addressing any problems with your dental veneers is imperative to your oral health, enabling you to avoid the long-term complications that can arise as a result of dental negligence.
The Claims Process: How Does It Work?
If you’ve undergone poor dental work recently and you suspect negligence has occurred, you may be able to open a compensation claim against your dentist. Regardless of the type of negligence that has occurred, a dental negligence claim can help you seek justice for the hardship you’ve faced.
Once you’ve contacted us to open your case, the dental negligence claims process usually follows these steps:
- A member of our experienced team will go through a dental negligence questionnaire with you, carrying out an initial assessment of your case, which we will use to decide if yours is something we can accept.
- If your claim is accepted, we’ll provide you with paperwork to sign, including our no-win, no-fee guarantee. Our team of paralegals will then collect your dental records to establish a timeline for your claim.
- Our in-house dento-legal advisors will assess your claim further, making a final decision as to whether your case can be pursued.
- If your case is strong enough to proceed, it will be allocated to one of our dedicated dental solicitors. A letter of claim will be drafted and submitted to the defendant, who has four months to respond. Once they have responded, negotiations can begin.
- Most dental negligence cases are resolved during the negotiation stage. However, if negotiations fail, there is a chance your claim may need to enter court proceedings. If this happens, your solicitor will advise you on the next steps.
It’s important to note that there is typically a three-year time limit from the date the dental negligence occurred to sue your dentist, so even if you have veneer pain years later or find a problem with your veneers at a later date, you may still be able to claim compensation.
Success Stories: Winning a Veneers Gone Wrong Case
We’re unable to state exactly how much compensation you might receive from your claim, as every case is different. However, we have a wealth of Client Stories that may help to give you more of an idea of what your claim might look like.
One example of this is a successful claim in which the claimant (Mrs G), received a compensation sum of £16,000 after five out of eight veneers placed became fractured after the fitting process. The claimant had noticed numerous issues with her veneers, eventually taking legal action against her dentist. After contacting the Dental Law Partnership, it was found that the previous dentist had over-prepared Mrs G’s teeth for veneers, making the bonds weaker and unsuitable for this type of surgery.
Another case involved a similar sum of £15,000 being paid out to the claimant, Mrs N. After her veneers were fitted, the claimant experienced excruciating pain and difficulty eating before one of her veneers fell off. The claimant sought help from the Dental Law Partnership, and an assessment of her dental record showed that the original dentist had failed to use a reasonable level of skill and care in the technical stages of both veneer placements. The negligent dentist had also failed to ensure Mrs N’s veneers were of a satisfactory fit, leading to further issues.
Please see our dedicated Client Stories page to read more dental negligence success stories.
Finding the Right Dental Negligence Solicitor
Dealing with veneers gone wrong can be a distressing experience, having a negative impact on your appearance, oral health and mental health. Recognising the signs of improperly fitted veneers is a crucial factor for taking timely action in the unlikely event that negligence occurs during dental treatment.
If you suspect that your dentist has acted negligently when fitting your veneers, you should not hesitate to seek professional advice. Hiring a dental negligence legal team like the Dental Law Partnership can help you address problems with your dentist, ensuring you receive the quality of care you deserve.
To claim for dental negligence after a veneer dental procedure, please request a callback with our experienced team here.