Dental Filling Negligence Claims Solicitors in Manchester

The compensation for a dental filling negligence claim is calculated on the basis of how severe the injury caused by the negligent filling is in terms of physical and psychological pain and distress. It will also take into account factors such as the impact on your ability to sleep, eat or talk.

In addition, the compensation will be intended to cover the cost of any further treatment required to deal with the damage caused by the negligent filling, and out of pocket expenses such as travel costs to and from corrective dental appointments. If you lose earnings because the negligent filling forces you to take time off work then this will also form part of any compensation payment.

Once the experts at TJL have a clear idea of the nature and severity of the injury caused by your negligent dental filling they will be able to estimate the compensation payment they think you are likely to receive.

• Pain following the filling being placed which lasts for longer than a few days without lessening or which becomes worse over time
• The filling itself is loose, falls out of the tooth entirely, or leaves a gap where it hasn’t filled the cavity meant to take it
• Your bite doesn’t line up correctly following the filling
• The tooth which has been filled cracks or deteriorates further following the filling
• Swelling, infection or redness are present around the filled tooth
• Sharp edges on the filling cause discomfort or irritation

Although some discomfort or even pain is likely after most dental fillings, if the pain doesn’t diminish over time or becomes worse it could be a sign that the filling has been placed negligently. If you’re at all worried about the pain a filling is causing you should seek further dental attention as soon as possible, since any infection setting in could potentially be very serious.

• Persistent discomfort and pain in the infected area – some pain is likely after almost all dental treatment, but it should lessen over time as the treated area heals. Pain which doesn’t lessen or gets worse could be a sign of infection, as could pain which spreads to other areas such as the jaw or neck.
• Swelling and redness in the infected area following dental treatment – some swelling and redness is normal after most dental work, but swelling which doesn’t go down or increases over time could indicate an infection. In the most extreme cases swelling caused by infection could make it difficult to open and close your mouth or even change your facial appearance. If the swelling and redness begin to spread to the surrounding areas you should seek urgent medical attention, as an infection of this kind could cause problems with eating or even breathing.
• Pus or unusual discharge – one of the clearest indicators of an infection after dental work is the presence of discharge or pus in the treated area. If an abscess forms following treatment, for example, then the bacteria present could cause pus to leak from the wound or collect in the mouth. In many cases the discharge will taste or smell unpleasant. If pus or discharge is present then you should seek further dental treatment immediately to stop the infection spreading.
• Fever and fatigue – if an infection after dental work starts to spread then you may develop a high temperature, which is a sign that your body is fighting the infection off. You could also develop feelings of fatigue or a general lack of energy.

If symptoms such as these develop, particularly alongside swelling, redness, discomfort or discharge, then you should seek immediate medical attention to stop the infection spreading.

If you develop sepsis after dental work it could potentially be life-threatening. The symptoms of sepsis include low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, high temperature, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate and disorientation or confusion.

• Injury to the mouth such as nerve damage caused by the negligent use of a drill when preparing the tooth for a filling
• Tooth decay remaining in place and spreading around or under the filling
• An abscess developing after the filling had been placed because the site of the filling or the instruments used weren’t correctly sterilised
• The nerve of the tooth dying following the filling being put in place
• The tooth fracturing during the filling process or after the filling is in place

Any complication arising after a filling has been placed which happens because the dentists placing it failed in their duty of care to you could form part of a dental filling negligence claim. The pain, distress and injury caused will be taken into account when any compensation payment is being calculated.

In the midst of getting over negligence of this kind the thought of taking legal action could seem pretty daunting.

We understand this, and keep things as simple as possible by breaking the claims process down into manageable individual steps:

1. We start with a free, no obligation consultation when you first contact us. You can explain what happened with your dental filling and we’ll use our expertise and experience to decide whether you are eligible to claim compensation
2. If we think you are then we’ll start the claims process by taking a more detailed statement from you, describing the treatment you received and the impact it has had in terms of pain, distress and your ability to do things like eat, drink, sleep or talk.
3. We’ll arrange a medical assessment with an independent dental expert. They will produce a report setting out the full extent of your injuries, the prognosis for recovery and any further treatment you are likely to require.
4. We’ll bring together the evidence needed to show that your dental filling was negligent. As well as any evidence you are able to bring to us when we start your claim, this will include:
   • Your dental records from before and after the filling
   • Photographic evidence of the filling itself and the surrounding areas
   • Statements from witnesses such as friends and family able to describe your physical and psychological response to the negligent filling
   • Wider medical records, especially if they detail any treatment needed because of the filling, such as painkillers or antibiotics having to be prescribed
   • Details of any expenses directly relating to the filling, such as prescription charges, the cost of further dental treatment, travel expenses to and from any dental appointments needed to fix the failed filling and any earnings lost through time having to be taken off work.
5. We’ll contact the dentist – either a NHS dentist or a private practitioner – to tell them that you intended to claim compensation and present the evidence for your claim. Most of the dental filling negligence claims we handle are settled at this point, with the other party admitting liability and offering compensation.
6. We will negotiate to ensure that you get 100% of the compensation you are entitled to. Although we use our dispute resolution expertise to settle claims as quickly as possible we never accept less than the full amount of compensation due.
7. In a small number of cases it proves impossible to reach an agreement and the case has to be settled in court. If this happens our dental negligence experts will be by your side throughout and will argue your case clearly and forcefully.

Throughout the process we will be on hand to provide one to one support and help you to access any further services needed. We give every client the space and time they need to recover from their negligent treatment while we get on with the task of claiming the compensation they are entitled to.

• Your dental records from before and after the filling being placed
• Your own personal statement describing the treatment you received and how the dental filling negligence has impacted you
• The results of an assessment from an independent dental expert
• Photographs of the filling itself and any issues it causes
• Statements from people such as friends and family able to witness the impact the filling had on you
• Documentation of any financial impact the dental filling negligence had, such as lost earnings, costs for corrective treatment and further dental bills
• Wider medical records detailing any treatment needed to deal with the negligent filling, such as painkillers or antibiotics