Bad Filling Compensation

Although white fillings are considered a routine part of dental treatment, on some occasions the procedure may not go to plan. Errors can occur as a result of dental negligence with the following complications, which might result in the opportunity for a dental negligence claim:

• Failure to clean out the cavity in the tooth to a satisfactory standard, leaving decay still present in the tooth

• The potential for pain and dental infection

• Poor execution of the white filling, leading to gaps where decay can take hold

• Tooth fracture

• Early filling replacements

If something goes wrong during your treatment, you may want to consider making an official complaint to your dentist. Otherwise, you can open a dental negligence claim with a team of expert dental solicitors like the Dental Law Partnership.

There are a number of ways in which you may be able to tell that a filling has not worked properly, or that the work was not carried out to a good standard. These signs may not always mean you have been a victim of dental negligence, but it’s important to take action and visit a dentist as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Ongoing aches or pains that last longer than a few days after the filling procedure was carried out

• The filling falls out or has a gap (does not fill the whole cavity)

• The gums or teeth around the filled tooth are irritated longer than a couple of days after the procedure

• Your bite no longer lines up correctly

• The tooth cracks or degrades further

In the first few days following your dental procedure, it’s not uncommon for there to be some tooth sensitivity after a filling or pain after your filling was fitted. However, if this sensitivity and pain continues for weeks or months or gets noticeably worse, it could be a sign of an underlying dental problem that requires further treatment.

If your tooth hurts after a filling was fitted, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your dentist made a mistake with your treatment, but it can sometimes happen as a result of dental negligence. 

If you believe that your dentist is at fault due to errors that they made or the poor standard of care given, you might be eligible to start the dental negligence claims process. 

Get in touch with us for more information.

As every dental negligence case is different, it’s not possible to put a precise time frame on how long a case like this will take, from start to finish. 

The complexity of the case will play a large part in how long it takes to bring a successful claim, as gathering the necessary evidence and involving independent experts from different parties can take time. 

Find out more in our blog: How Long Does a Dental Negligence Claim Take?

How long a filling will last depends on the size of the filling and its material composition, with the rule of thumb being the smaller the filling, the longer it will last. Amalgam fillings also tend to last longer than their white equivalents, although this isn’t always a given.

Silver and gold fillings are generally more durable and may last up to 20 years if you practise good oral hygiene techniques. On the other hand, you could expect a moderate-sized white filling in a back tooth to last between six to eight years.

Before undergoing any treatment, it’s important to ensure you’re as informed as possible about the procedure. This is particularly important with private treatments like white fillings, as they can be more invasive and costly than other surgeries. This means that you’ll want to make sure you know the cost of your white fillings before any dental work is started, as they’re usually classed as cosmetic dental treatments.