Dental Malpractice Lawyer
Dental Malpractice Lawsuits
The concept of dental malpractice encompasses a range of negligent actions that harm patients. This can include things like:
- Use of defective dental product
- Failure to sterilize of dental tools
- Failure to evaluate/consider patient medical history
- Failure to get informed consent
- improper use or administration of anesthesia
- Bone or tissue injury
- Bone or tooth fragment infection
- Severe nerve damage
- Failure to treat oral disease
- Failure to diagnose hazardous dental conditions
- TMJ jaw fracturesDental malpractice refers to injuries associated with any instance of intentional misconduct on the part of the dental practitioner or the dentist.
According to the National Practitioner Data Bank, one in every seven medical malpractice cases in the United States involves a dentist. Some of these errors or mistakes have catastrophic consequences for patients, and these patients may be able to recover compensation.
If you’re unsure whether or not you have a dental malpractice claim in Colorado, our legal team can help review the specifics of your situation. Getting a second opinion from another dentist may lead you to believe that your previous provider deviated from the standard of care. We can help you with the legal steps needed to identify a liable party and fight for your rights.
Proving Dental Malpractice in Colorado
Four things must be proven by a person alleging dental malpractice. The first of these is that the dental provider had a duty to comply with the standard of care when treating patients, which applies to all dentists in Colorado. The second element is showing that the dental provider failed in his or her duty to provide you with the specific care in line with the definition of competent care for dentists.
You must also be able to illustrate causation, or that the dental provider’s care or breach of duty caused you harm or injury. Finally, you must be able to show that you have sustained harm or injuries as a direct result of the breach, and these are your damages.
Common Examples of Dental Malpractice
The majority of dental malpractice claims in Colorado involve injuries to the jaw or mouth, but other errors, such as medication problems or anesthesia issues, can impact other areas of the body. Unfortunately, injuries associated with dental malpractice can be very painful and may require additional medical care or surgery.
Some of the most common examples of dental malpractice cases include:
- Failure to refer to a specialist
- Improper tooth extraction
- Failure to diagnose conditions
- Failure to treat complications such as infections
- Failure to properly supervise employee actions
- Wrongfully administered anesthesia
More than one error or mistake may apply to your Littleton or Loveland dental malpractice case. We work with you to review records and discuss your care.
It is important to communicate with a qualified Colorado dental malpractice attorney at Burton| Beale as soon as possible. This will be your best opportunity to identify the grounds for a case and to determine your next action steps to recover compensation.
