One of the most common dental malpractice issues that damages speech is damage to the nerves in the jaws, lips, or tongue. Dentists receiving training as they use sharp tools inside the mouths of their clients. However, one moment of inattentiveness can cause permanent damage for the patient. Nerve damage is incredibly painful and, in the worst circumstances, irreversible. Those with nerve damage may lose sensation in their mouth or lose the ability to move it for speech.
Other Types of Dental Malpractice
Anesthesia Complications
Anesthesia is sometimes necessary for complicated or painful procedures. When a person is placed under an anesthetic, they must be monitored closely. First, patients should be monitored for a negative reaction caused by an overdose of anesthetics. Children and underweight adults are most at risk for overdose on anesthetics.
Failure to Diagnose
When a person trusts a medical professional with their health, they expect to receive the benefits of extensive medical training. If a dentist or oral surgeon ignores signs of infection, cancer, or other complication they should be held liable for their failure to follow their training.
Failure to Supervise Medical Employees
When a person visits the dentist for a routine cleaning, they usually do not spend most of their visit with a dentist. Instead, a trained dental hygienist handles their teeth cleaning needs. While dental hygienists are highly-trained, they must be monitored by the dentist they work with. If a dentist fails to set the possible standards and make sure his staff can do their job safely, then they should be held liable for their failure to provide a safe environment for patients.
Failure to Refer a Specialist
Like any medical field, dentistry is only a small sector of the oral care world. When a dentist notices a problem that is outside of their training and experience, they have a responsibility to refer a patient to the proper specialist. For example, if a dentist does not do surgeries and notices a patient needs an extraction, then they should refer them to the proper oral surgeon.
Informed Consent Issues
Sometimes, a procedure has a reasonable amount of risks associated with it. Dentists and oral surgeons must properly notify their patients of all risks associated with a procedure. When a patient receives a warning for possible complications and agrees to have the procedure despite them, this is called informed consent. If a patient suffers from a complication they were not warned of, they may be able to sue for medical malpractice.
Improper Tooth Extraction
Pain, swelling, and discomfort are typical experiences after a tooth extraction. However, some people suffer much more because of medical malpractice during their extraction. Infection, nerve damage, and an improper response to complications during an extraction are a common source of medical malpractice cases.
Filing a Dentistry Medical Malpractice Case
If you believe that your dentist or oral surgeon failed to provide the care that they are required to provide, then it is time to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney. An attorney will help you fight for the compensation of medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with your complications from dental work. Best of all, the best legal help is available for you because most attorneys do not collect fees unless they win results in case!
Use our directory to find the best dentistry medical malpractice attorneys near you today.