Dental Crown Negligence Claims Solicitors in Manchester

It’s not about perfection, because complications can (and do) happen in dentistry. But there’s a difference between an unavoidable complication and preventable mistakes with a badly fitted crown.

Common examples of negligence include fitting a crown incorrectly so it causes constant pain or keeps falling off. Sometimes, dentists prepare the wrong tooth by mistake, leaving you with an unnecessary crown while the damaged tooth stays untreated. And poor hygiene standards during the procedure can lead to painful dental infections.

Some patients have crowns placed when they weren’t even necessary. If your dentist recommended a crown to make money and not because you needed it, that’s also negligence. And if your dentist didn’t properly explain the risks or get your informed consent, you might have grounds for a claim, regardless of whether you were treated by an NHS or private dentist.

This means they fell below the standards expected of a competent dentist, and you’ve suffered avoidable harm because of it. Harm can mean physical pain, financial costs for corrective treatment, or even time off work. 

Both NHS and private dentists can be sued for bad dental work. If you had NHS treatment and something went wrong, you have the same right to claim compensation as someone who paid privately.

This usually involves raising concerns with the dental practice first, then escalating to NHS England if you’re not satisfied. 

In Wales, you’ll also complain to your dental practice first. If that isn’t getting you results, you can escalate through a complaints system called Putting Things Right (PTR).

You can also complain to the General Dental Council (GDC) about your dentist’s conduct. The GDC investigates fitness to practice.

But here’s the problem: neither the NHS complaint procedures nor the GDC complaint will get you any compensation. You’ll need a legal claim for that.

The amount you can recover varies based on the severity of your dental injury and losses. Minor issues that can be quickly fixed result in lower compensation. Serious complications requiring extensive corrective treatment, or permanent damage will be worth much more. 

Typical dental crown claims can range from a few hundred pounds for minor issues to several thousand and more for serious, lasting damage.

It should also cover the cost of having the crown redone properly and fixing any damage caused by the faulty work. You could also claim lost earnings if you missed work for appointments or recovery. And any future dental treatment you’ll need because of the negligence should also be factored into your compensation award.

TJL Solicitors can give you a realistic estimate of your faulty crown compensation once we’ve reviewed your case.

You generally have three years from your “date of knowledge,” according to the Limitation Act 1980. This means your three years start to run down on the day you realised something was wrong and suspected your dentist might have made a mistake (not necessarily from the treatment date itself).

Sometimes, the problem with your crown is immediately obvious. Other times, you might have pain for months before realising that this isn’t normal, or before another dentist told you the crown was fitted badly. The courts understand that people don’t always know straight away that they’ve been victims of negligence.

But once you know, don’t make the mistake of delaying your claim. The longer you wait, the harder winning dental negligence claims can become. Memories fade, records may get lost, and witnesses become impossible to track down.