You notice ongoing issues following a dental appointment. Pain persists beyond the expected recovery period or the restoration appears unsatisfactory. It can be difficult to know whether this reflects normal healing or substandard care.
This question arises for thousands of people across the UK every year. TJL Solicitors has dealt with these situations since 2000, and consistent patterns become apparent with experience. The firm reports a success rate above 95% in matters it has pursued where the evidence supports the claim.
Understanding whether you have a viable claim starts with the legal definition of negligence in a dental context. Expert dental negligence solicitors can assess your situation based on experience from hundreds of similar cases.
Russell Sutton’s team has seen everything from substandard extractions to cosmetic procedures with unsatisfactory outcomes, so they are familiar with the warning signs that merit investigation.
How Do You Know When to File a Dental Negligence Compensation Claim?
What Constitutes Dental Negligence?
Not every adverse outcome amounts to negligence. Complications can arise even when a dentist acts appropriately. Legally, the question is whether the care fell below the standard of a reasonably competent practitioner and whether that breach caused your injury or loss.
Indicators that merit review include:
- Persistent pain weeks after a procedure despite an anticipated quick recovery.
- Damage to adjacent or previously healthy teeth not intended for treatment.
- Recurrent infection following root canal therapy, suggesting inadequate disinfection or obturation.
- Numbness or tingling of the face, tongue or lips that does not resolve, indicating possible nerve injury.
- Increased mobility or tooth loss following periodontal treatment due to inadequate diagnosis or therapy.
- Cosmetic work with poor aesthetics or impaired function (e.g., altered bite or speech) indicating a clinically substandard result.
When to Seek Legal Advice?
Obtain legal advice promptly if you believe a clinical error has caused you harm. A solicitor who handles these cases will review the chronology, request and analyse your dental records, instruct independent experts where appropriate, and give you a candid assessment of prospects.
TJL Solicitors acted for a man whose wisdom tooth extraction went badly. The specialist surgeon severed his inferior dental nerve. He ended up with permanent numbness in his lower lip, a persistent sensory deficit.
The firm secured nearly £20,000, reflecting the pain, the permanence of the injury and its impact on daily life. The case settled in 18 months without going to court.
How Compensation Claims Work?
A solicitor reviews the circumstances of your treatment, checks your dental records, and obtains expert medical opinions. If the evidence supports negligence, they pursue compensation through the pre-action protocol and negotiation, issuing proceedings if required.
What Compensation can Cover?
Compensation covers corrective treatment costs, future dental work, time off work, and the impact on your daily life. Values vary: lower-severity cases may settle for several thousand pounds, while serious injuries with permanent effects can reach tens of thousands of pounds.
Taking the First Step
If you suspect poor dental work has harmed you, seek advice without delay. There are time limits on making claims, generally three years from the date of knowledge (when you knew or ought reasonably to have known) that the injury may have been caused by negligence.
An initial consultation with a specialist solicitor will clarify your position. They will explain whether you have grounds for a claim and what to expect from the process. TJL Solicitors runs cases from their Manchester office, handling matters in-house rather than outsourcing to call centres.
You do not have to accept poor treatment or manage the consequences alone. If substandard dental care has caused you harm, legal routes exist to obtain accountability and the funds required for remedial care.
