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If it is caught in its early stages, gum disease can usually be treated effectively. However, if your dentist fails to spot the signs, it can lead to severe injury. Your dentist has a duty of care to identify any cases of gum disease and advise you on the best course of action. If they fail to diagnose gum disease, despite seeing you regularly as a patient, you may be entitled to make a dental negligence compensation claim against them.
Periodontal disease, left untreated, can lead to loss of teeth and many other severe health risks – not to mention irreversible gum damage. Victims of dental negligence can be left with severe health problems, especially those who have developed serious cases of gum disease due to misdiagnosis, or their dentist’s failure to spot the symptoms and signs of gum disease or periodontitis. If you feel your dentist has failed to provide you with a high level of service and you are injured as a result, you may be entitled to compensation.
The consequences of untreated gum disease can include:
If you have developed gingivitis or periodontal disease and you feel that your dentist should have spotted the signs earlier, contact the expert dental negligence solicitors at the Dental Law Partnership today.
At the Dental Law Partnership, we have an experienced and skilled team of dental negligence solicitors and dentists who are able to assess your claim quickly. As experts in the field, we will discuss your potential grounds to make a failed diagnosis claim and give you the support you need to get the compensation you may be entitled to.
We are also proudly accredited by Lexcel as an industry leader and have a proven track record of helping victims claim compensation for periodontal gum disease issues.
So, if you feel you have been a victim of dental negligence, contact a member of our team today for free initial legal advice.
If you visit your dentist for a general check up and they fail to diagnose that you have gum disease, they could be considered negligent for failing to recognise the signs. They could also be considered negligent if they do see the signs of gum disease but don’t tell you about it or fail to give you advice about how to reduce the risk of the condition developing further.
The kinds of advice you should expect may include:
If you think that this is something that has happened to you, and you believe that your dentist has acted negligently, you can speak to one of our team for free initial advice about whether you have a claim and the best next steps for you.
Both gingivitis and periodontitis, can usually be prevented by:
Some medical conditions, such as diabetes, can also increase your risk of developing gum disease. In these cases, it is crucial that you visit your dentist regularly. They will be able to advise you on the preventative steps you can take to avoid gum disease.
Early gum disease, such as gingivitis, can be treated by maintaining good oral hygiene at home to prevent the build-up of plaque. Your dentist will advise you of a suitable routine – generally it will include brushing and flossing twice a day. Your dentist or hygienist may clean (scale) your teeth to remove any plaque build-up.
If gum disease has progressed to an advanced stage, treatment becomes much more complex. You may need referral to a specialist periodontist. Treatment can include deep cleaning (root planing), surgery and extraction.
In early cases of gum disease, there is usually no discomfort or noticeable symptoms. However, as the issue worsens, you may notice:
Generally, healthy gums are a pale pink colour and will appear fitted tightly around the teeth. So, if you feel that your gums don’t match this description, it’s important that you visit your dentist for a check-up as soon as possible. You should highlight these symptoms to your dentist, who will then advise you on your best course of action.
