Have you suffered pain, financial loss, or distress due to a mistake made by your dentist? If a dental professional has failed in their duty of care, you may be entitled to compensation. This page is designed to help you understand what constitutes dental negligence and provide an initial estimate of your potential claim using our advanced, easy-to-use calculator.
Our calculator provides a confidential and no-obligation estimate based on the details you provide. While this tool offers a helpful guideline, a formal consultation with a specialist solicitor is the best way to get a precise valuation.
Estimate your potential compensation for dental negligence.
Dental negligence occurs when a dentist, orthodontist, hygienist, or other dental professional provides a standard of care that falls below what is reasonably expected, directly causing you injury, harm, or the worsening of a condition. This includes not only errors during treatment but also failures in diagnosis and communication.
Every registered medical professional, including those in the dental field, owes a “duty of care” to their patients. This means they must use their skills, knowledge, and judgment to a standard that is considered acceptable by a responsible body of their peers. If this standard is breached and you suffer as a result, it may be grounds for a negligence claim.
Dental negligence can manifest in many ways. Some of the most common incidents that lead to successful claims include:
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis: Failure to identify and treat conditions like gum disease (periodontitis), oral cancer, or jaw issues in a timely manner.
Incorrect Treatment: Performing a procedure that is unnecessary or unsuitable for your condition, such as placing a crown on a tooth that cannot be saved.
Surgical Errors: Mistakes made during procedures like wisdom tooth extractions, root canals, or the placement of dental implants.
Nerve Injury: Causing damage to the lingual nerve (affecting taste and sensation in the tongue) or the inferior alveolar nerve (causing numbness in the lip, chin, and gums).
Wrongful Tooth Extraction: Removing the wrong tooth or causing damage to adjacent healthy teeth during an extraction.
Anesthesia Complications: Administering an incorrect dose of anesthesia or failing to monitor a patient properly, leading to complications.
Our calculator is designed to be simple, interactive, and completely confidential. By providing information across five key areas, you can receive an instant estimate of the compensation you could receive.
Tell us about the type of negligence you experienced. Different errors carry different weight in a claim.
Input your pain and suffering levels, the expected time for recovery, and whether the damage is permanent. This helps calculate “General Damages.”
Add up any costs you have incurred as a direct result of the negligence. This includes corrective treatment, future dental costs, and any income you have lost. This calculates your “Special Damages.”
Consider the emotional distress and the effect the injury has had on your daily life, hobbies, and social activities.
Once you click the button, the tool will provide a detailed breakdown of your estimated General and Special Damages, along with a total figure.
A dental negligence claim is typically broken down into two main types of damages. Our calculator provides an estimate for both.
This is compensation for the non-financial impact of the negligence. It is calculated based on the pain and suffering your injury has caused and the “loss of amenity,” which refers to the effect on your quality of life, hobbies, and ability to enjoy daily activities. The severity and duration of the injury are key factors here.
This part of the claim is designed to reimburse you for any money you have lost or had to spend as a direct result of the dental negligence. You should keep detailed records and receipts for:
Corrective Dental Work: The cost of fixing the damage.
Future Treatment: Estimated costs for any ongoing dental care required.
Loss of Earnings: Income lost from being unable to work.
Travel and Prescription Costs: Any out-of-pocket expenses related to your treatment.
While our calculator provides a valuable starting point, the next step is to seek professional legal advice.
Look for a law firm that specializes in medical or dental negligence claims. They can offer a free consultation to discuss the specifics of your case.
Your solicitor will help you collect all necessary evidence, which may include your dental records, witness statements, independent medical assessments, and proof of your financial losses.
Most dental negligence claims are handled on a “No Win, No Fee” basis. This means you will not have to pay any legal fees if your case is unsuccessful, removing any financial risk to you.
Remember, strict time limits apply to making a claim, so it is important to seek advice as soon as you believe you may have been a victim of dental negligence.