Infections After Dental Work Claims

What are the main signs of infection after dental work?

The most common signs of dental infection are:

• A persistent, throbbing pain after dental work
• Sensitive or tender teeth to hot and cold sensations
• Bad-smelling breath (halitosis) and bleeding gums
• Painful chewing and biting when eating or drinking
• Swelling and inflammation in your face or cheek
• Tasting pus (a foul-tasting and smelling salty fluid) in your mouth
• Difficulties with swallowing or breathing

If you do encounter a dental infection after having dental work done, the most important thing is to treat the infection as quickly as possible. Tooth infections can appear as a result of several oral health conditions, including untreated tooth decay, cracked teeth or early gum disease (gingivitis). If left untreated, your infection can spread to other parts of the body, which means that prompt treatment is essential to avoid serious complications.

Can infections after dental work be life-threatening?

In some rare cases, a mouth infection can spread to the blood or the rest of the body, which can have some life-threatening implications. Common symptoms of your tooth infection spreading to the bloodstream are:

• Fever
• A rapid heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Confusion and mental changes
• Chills
• Trouble breathing
• Facial swelling and nerve inflammation
• A severe headache
•  Difficulty with swallowing and eating

If you notice any of these issues after developing an oral infection, you should contact NHS 111.

If you believe that your dentist was at fault for your infection and your injury came as a result of their negligence, you might be eligible to start a dental injury claim.

Am I eligible to claim compensation for an infection after dental work?

It’s important to note that an infection after dental work doesn’t necessarily mean your dentist did anything wrong. However, if the standard of care you received fell below the expected level or your dentist did not follow the proper steps during your treatment, you may be able to open a dental negligence claim.

Some common types of claim we receive include:

• Infections after root canal treatment: If any decay is left behind during the procedure, this can allow bacteria to grow, which may result in infection.
• Lip infections after dental work: Although it’s common to get small cuts or mouth ulcers around your lips after dental work, swelling or pain that persists for weeks after the treatment could be a sign of infection.

If you returned to the dentist due to a suspected infection and they failed to identify that something was wrong, resulting in further pain and suffering, you could be eligible to make a failure to diagnose claim.

Is there a time limit on making a claim?

Yes – you have three years to make a claim from the date the dental negligence occurred, or from the date you became aware that it had occurred. This is why we recommend getting in touch to start the dental negligence claim process as soon as possible if you think you may be entitled to compensation.