Dental Implants Claims Solicitors in Manchester

Once in place, the metal post can support a single tooth, or a bridge or denture needed to replace multiple teeth.  

Dental implants are one of the more complex and invasive dental procedures, and should only be carried out by dentists who have specialist qualifications and expertise. They should also only happen after the dentist has undertaken careful checks to ensure that you are a suitable candidate for dental implants. 

The checks should include x-rays, and the dentist should take the time to find out about:

• Your general health 
• Any history of smoking
• The space available for implants 
• The condition, height and width of the bone in your jaw
• The health of your gums and your other teeth

This duty of care involves doing everything possible to avoid damage to your gums, teeth and jaw and to eliminate unnecessary pain and discomfort during and following the implant.

If they fail to make the relevant checks before deciding to undertake implant surgery then they may have failed in their duty of care. This failure could also take the form of not explaining clearly what the procedure involves and what the risks and side-effects are.  

In order for a dental implant claim to be successful you will need to prove that the dentist did one or more of the following:

• Failed to gain informed consent for the dental implant
• Failed to carry out sufficient checks before performing the dental implant 
• Made a mistake during the implant or when providing after-care that a competent professional dentist wouldn’t make in the same circumstances 

You will also need to show that the failure in the duty of care you were owed led to the dental impact failing in some way, which amounts to negligence. A dental implants claim will also set out the impact the failed implant had on you in terms of physical and psychological distress, and any costs connected with correcting the treatment.

After the 3 years is up you will no longer be able to start a claim. 

Exceptions to the 3 year time limit include:

• If you were under 18 at the time the implant was placed, in which case the 3 years will run from your 18th to your 21st birthday
• If you lacked the ‘mental capacity’ to make the claim during the 3 year period, in which case it will run from the date on which you regained capacity

Despite the 3 year period applying we would always recommend starting a dental implants claim as soon as possible after the treatment taking place. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll get any compensation you’re entitled to, and the clearer the memory of the negligent treatment and the impact it has had on you will be.

Some of the more common issues we see when handling dental implants claims include the following: 

• A dentist failing to take existing health issues into account when performing dental implant surgery. If issues such as gum disease, diabetes and osteoporosis are not identified and noted it could lead to implant failure, a slow healing process or an increased risk of infection.
• An implant failing to fuse with the jawbone and becoming loose. This can happen because infection sets in, or because the jawbone itself was never suitable for an implant. 
• The crown, bridge or dentures which are attached to dental implants being ill-fitting or badly designed. Issues with the replacement teeth attached to an implant can cause pain and the loosening of the implant over the longer term. 
• An implant being placed in such a way that it enters the sinus space above the top jaw. This can lead to swelling, discomfort and recurring sinus infections, as well as requiring corrective surgery. 
• A dentist failing to diagnose gum-disease in a patient prior to placing a dental implant. If this happens the implant is more likely to become infected by the bacteria present, leading to it failing or having to be removed. 
• A dentist inserting the implant into the jaw bone in the wrong position. An implant at the wrong depth or angle will be more likely to loosen over time, while poor positioning will also put pressure on the bone surrounding the implant and affect the appearance of the replacement tooth.  
• If the implant is placed in a way which means that it fails to integrate with the surrounding jawbone this could lead to the implant failing and the surrounding bone being damaged. 
• If the dentist doesn’t follow-up the implant procedure by inspecting and cleaning on a regular basis it could lead to a build-up of bacteria and plaque causing gum recession, infection and bone loss.  
• If the dentist fails to take proper care during the implant surgery itself then the teeth surrounding the implant could be damaged. Issues such as loosened, cracked or chipped teeth could be painful and require further dental treatment. 
• A dentist failing to deliver adequate levels of aftercare following a dental implant. Following the placement of an implant a dentist should check regularly that there are no complications and the implant is healing as it should. 

They should also deal with any questions or worries you might have and offer detailed guidance on caring for your implant in the longer term. If any problems do arise then your dentist should act quickly to deal with them.

• The tongue, lips, face or gum feeling numb
• The tongue, lips, face or gum experiencing a burning sensation
• The area around the implant causing pain or sensitivity for longer than the standard healing period, which is 3 to 5 days

Never damage can happen if the dentist fails to take proper care when placing an implant, or places one too close to a nerve. If you think you may have suffered nerve damage as a result of dental implants negligence you should visit a dentist to have it investigated as soon as possible.

You can visit a different dentist if you no longer wish to be treated by the dentist responsible for the original implant. 

If you know that something has gone wrong and think it may have happened because your dentist was negligent then you should contact TJL to ask about a dental implants claim. We know that taking legal action may be the last thing on your mind when dealing with the trauma of a failed dental implant, so we keep things as simple as possible. 

We handle the stress and work of a dental implants claim while you concentrate on recovering from your injuries. We make a point of breaking the process down into a series of individual steps:

• During an initial free consultation you can explain what happened with your dental implants and where you think things went wrong. If it sounds like you’ve been the victim of negligence, we’ll get to work building your claim.
• We’ll take a detailed statement in which you describe the treatment you received, including any pre-implant checks carried out, how the process was explained to you and the after-care which was provided. You’ll also be able to outline the physical and psychological distress caused by the dental implants and the impact it has had on your life in general. 
• We’ll arrange for an expert in dental implants to examine you. This will enable us to build up a full picture of how your dental implant has gone wrong, what the prognosis for recovery is, and the scope and nature of any further treatment you might require.
• We’ll gather evidence such as:
  • Witness statements from family and friends describing the impact the dental implants have had on you
  • Your dental records from before and after the implants were placed
  • Your medical records and in particular details of any pain relief or antibiotics prescribed to deal with the after-effects of the implants, or any counselling or therapy needed to cope with the psychological impact
• We will inform the other party that you intend to make a dental implants claim on the basis of negligence. In the majority of cases the other party will accept liability at this stage. 

Our expertise when it comes to dispute resolution and negotiation enables us to settle most of the dental implants claims we handle quickly and without having to go to court. 

• Once the other party has admitted liability we will negotiate a fair settlement. Our understanding of what you can claim compensation for means that we never settle for anything less than 100% of the compensation you deserve. 
• In a minority of cases it isn’t possible to come to an agreement and the claim has to be settled in court. If this happens we will argue your case clearly and calmly and support you throughout. 

Our commitment to our clients is reflected in the fact that we will provide access to any additional support you require while coming to terms with and recovering from your negligent dental treatment.