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.
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How to make a gum disease claim
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.
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Dental negligence: Gum disease compensation claims – More info:
How can I prevent gum disease?Both gingivitis and periodontitis, can usually be prevented by:
- Excellent oral hygiene at home
- Regular visits to your dentist. They will examine the health of your gums and bone levels using special instruments.
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.
How can I treat 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.
What are the symptoms of gum disease?
In early cases of gum disease, there is usually no discomfort or noticeable symptoms. However, as the issue worsens, you may notice:
- Your gums appear puffy or swollen
- Your gums are a dark red colour
- Your gums start to bleed easily, particularly when you are brushing or flossing
- Your gums feel more tender than usual, and can be painful to touch
- Bad breath
- Your gums may appear to recede
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.
You can contact us for a free claim assessment and to discuss your options
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much compensation could I get for a gum disease dental negligence claim?
As with most dental negligence claims, the amount of compensation that you may receive if your dentist has failed to accurately diagnose or treat gum disease will depend on the circumstances of your specific case.
Factors taken into consideration will include:
- The severity of your gum disease diagnosis
- The delay in accurately diagnosing gum disease
- The short and long-term implications of the failure to diagnose, including the financial implication of further treatment to rectify the issue(s) and the impact that your dentist’s negligence has had on your day-to-day. This may include psychological and emotional trauma as well as physical suffering and pain.
At Dental Law Partnership, our team of expert dental negligence solicitors are on hand to help you with your gum disease compensation claim at every step of the way; call us today.
How long do gum disease dental negligence claims take?
Unfortunately, it is difficult to put an exact time-frame on a gum disease-related dental negligence compensation claim, as it can vary quite dramatically from case to case. There is a strict legal process that must be adhered to and many cases are settled before they reach court, meaning that a claim could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how your dentist responds to the claim and other aspects of the legal process, such as evidence gathering and gaining expert opinions. Click here for full details of the dental negligence claims process.
How much does it cost to make a gum disease dental compensation claim?
At the Dental Law Partnership, our cases are usually funded by a no win, no fee agreement. This means that even if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay any legal costs. Call us today for an initial, no obligation chat about your claim.
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Testimonials
Mr M North West – 17/01/2020
“All that remains is for me to thank you for your kind words, for your continued efforts, for providing complete transparency and clarity when required, and also for your patience. I wish you nothing but the best going forwards.”
Mr S, East Yorkshire – 20/12/2019
I just wanted to say a big thank you to you, and your colleagues at Dental Law, for all your hard work in pursuing my claim. I was very pleased with the outcome. Every aspect of the case was handled with the upmost professionalism and clear advice throughout. The advice on liability and quantum was right on the mark. I would not hesitate in recommending Dental Law.
Mrs M, South East – 12/12/2019
“I would highly recommend the DLP to others seeking help with dental negligence, for providing excellent advice and clear communication throughout the process, and from a personal point of view making what felt like a daunting prospect at the outset straightforward to understand.”
Client Stories
Compensation received: £5,000 out of court settlement
• Ms R experienced severe episode of pain and sensitivity • An infection in her tooth was left to spread which eventually led to its avoidable extraction • £5,000 awarded in compensation Ms R suffered multiple episodes of pain when her dentist failed to perform a root canal treatment properly, this meant many trips to […]
Compensation received: £4,000 out of court settlement
• A man in his 30’s from The North East will lose a tooth after his dentists failed to spot and treat decay. • A piece of dental equipment had been left in his tooth after a root canal treatment, this caused him intense pain and he was unable to chew. • £4000 awarded in […]
Compensation received: £55,000
Mr D was a regular attending patient and first saw Dr N in 2004 for a routine check-up. He would attend regularly and during numerous visits had a number of treatments including, fillings, crowns and root canal treatment at various teeth. He commented, ‘I didn’t feel like anything was out of the ordinary. If I […]