Periodontal Disease Negligence Claims Solicitors in Manchester

When you visit your dentist, you should expect to receive a high standard of care.

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In the UK, almost one in 10 adults has a severe form of gum disease. If you have a condition that’s been misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late, speak to our solicitors about periodontal disease negligence claims today.

Can I claim for periodontal disease negligence?

You may be able to make a periodontal disease claim if your oral health has got worse and it wasn’t your fault. In the case of gum disease compensation, your healthcare provider may have failed to spot the signs, leading to more severe symptoms.

In legal terms, dental negligence claims need two things to be successful:

  1. Breach of duty
  2. Causation

‘Breach of duty’ means that your healthcare provider failed in their duty of care. For example, they may have missed symptoms or misdiagnosed you entirely.

‘Causation’ means that this negligence caused your injury. With periodontal disease claims, this usually means that a healthcare provider’s negligence led to the disease progressing. You may have suffered other damage as well, for example, infections from your treatment or tooth loss.

Our Manchester-based personal injury solicitors can help you prove both breach of duty and causation.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a bacterial infection characterised by redness and swelling of the gums. Tissues that surround the teeth become inflamed, resulting in red or purple colouring, bleeding, bad breath and soreness.

The disease is caused by poor oral hygiene, such as lack of brushing and flossing, which leads to plaque build-up. Some people are more likely to get it than others. Factors such as genetics, smoking, autoimmune diseases and diabetes can also increase the risk of periodontitis. 

There are different stages of gum disease. That’s why failure to refer to a periodontist or treat the initial symptoms are so serious.

In the earlier stages, periodontal disease is reversible. But if your dentist or hygienist doesn’t offer appropriate care, your symptoms could worsen and you could claim gum disease compensation.

The stages of periodontal disease are:

  • Gingivitis. This is when gums are red and puffy, and may bleed when you brush or floss.
  • Mild periodontitis. At this stage, bacteria have spread beneath the gums. You may notice receding gums and ‘periodontal pockets’, which are where plaque hides.
  • Moderate periodontitis. This stage may lead to pus around the gums or bad breath, as well as some pain. Bacteria are starting to erode ligaments in the gums.
  • Advanced periodontitis. This stage is irreversible due to loss of supporting bone. You may notice loose teeth, and some may even fall out.
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When can missed or poorly treated gum disease be negligent?

Failure to diagnose gum disease is one example of periodontal negligence.

This usually happens if your dentist or hygienist fails to:

  •  Spot early signs of gum disease such as plaque and tartar build-up along the gum line (gingivitis)
  •  Give you appropriate warnings about worsening gum health
  •  Clean your teeth appropriately, such as a simple scale and polish – in more severe cases the dentist should suggest specialist deep cleaning and also offer that you are referred to a specialist Periodontist to get treatment
  •  Monitor your condition through periodontal charting or X-rays
  •  Offer check-ups when symptoms of periodontal disease occur

Your dentist may also fail to carry out the right treatment. If they offer the right treatment but do so negligently, for example, not keeping their equipment clean, then this could lead to infection.

Undiagnosed periodontal disease could cause more serious problems, such as receding gums or even tooth loss. Our experienced solicitors will help you gather evidence of these problems to support your periodontitis negligence claim.

What compensation could a gum disease claim cover?

Gum disease negligence claims cover two types of ‘damages’: ‘general’ damages and ‘special’ damages.

‘General damages’ refers to the general pain and suffering you’ve been through. The more severe the injury, the higher the compensation amount will be. For example, compensation for tooth loss due to gum disease may be a larger claim than short-term pain or swelling.

Your claim may also cover long-term impacts on your life. For example, tooth loss may cause psychological damage through embarrassment or anxiety, or you may have to go through further, uncomfortable treatment. Our specialist periodontal treatment negligence solicitors will help you claim every penny you deserve.

‘Special damages’ refers to financial losses. Gum disease claims can pay for things like ongoing dental treatment or travel to appointments. If you’ve taken any time off work with the pain, these can also cover loss of earnings.

How long do I have to make a claim?

You generally have three years from the date you discover the negligence to make a claim.

You should class this as the date you had your formal diagnosis, following up from previous appointments. For example, you may have chosen to see an independent dental expert if you felt your treatment was not appropriate.

Undiagnosed gum disease compensation may be harder to pinpoint due to ongoing symptoms. For example, a negligent tooth extraction or infection after dental work will both have specific treatment dates. We can help you gather evidence from medical records to prove your diagnosis, and show that your healthcare provider was negligent.

Although you have three years, you should always claim as soon as you feel well enough to do so. This will help our gum disease claims solicitors gather the most accurate evidence.

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How TJL can investigate your claim

Our Manchester-based solicitors can help you claim for a delayed diagnosis of periodontal disease or failure to treat gum disease altogether.

To get started, simply call our gum disease claim solicitors on 0161 877 1066 or fill out a contact form here.

The claims process will start with a short, no-obligation consultation where we’ll ask for details about your case. You should get in touch with us as soon as possible – ideally when you’re well enough to do so after you have discovered the negligence:

  1. Contact us. Our gum disease claims solicitors will listen to your story and let you know if we think you have a no win, no fee case.
  2. Evidence gathering. We can help you gather evidence to prove that your healthcare provider was negligent, and that you suffered as a result. This may include photographs of your gums, dental records and receipts for any losses you’ve incurred, such as ongoing dental treatment.
  3. Letter of claim. With this evidence, we will calculate a sum based on general damages and special damages. We will then send a ‘letter of claim’ to the organisation responsible – either the insurance provider for a private practice, or to NHS Resolution.
  4. Settling your claim. The insurer or NHS Resolution can either accept or dispute your claim. If they accept, you will be awarded the compensation minus our fees. If they dispute it, we can take it further. It’s very unlikely you’ll have to go to court.
  5. Payments and fees. In some cases, we can arrange ‘interim payments’. These are payments taken out of your total compensation while you’re waiting. They can cover things like travel to medical appointments.

Can I make a no win, no fee claim?

You can make a no win, no fee or ‘Conditional Fee Agreement’ claim. At TJL, we specialise in no win, no fee gum disease claims. This means that you will only pay legal fees if your claim is successful. 

A no win, no fee claim means you won’t have to pay anything upfront. In the unlikely event that we’re not successful, we’ve also got you covered. For every periodontal disease case, we take out insurance to cover legal fees, whatever the outcome.

Question 1 of 5

Do you think your dental surgeon was negligent?

Frequently asked questions about periodontal disease claims

Find out more about gum disease and the claims process with TJL Solicitors. 

What happens if gum disease is left untreated?

If gum disease is left untreated, it could progress to more serious symptoms including infection, pus, bleeding, pain and bone loss and ultimately, the loss of teeth. Periodontal disease has four stages, and the most advanced ones could lead to irreversible damage, so it’s important to recognise the symptoms early. We can help you claim the compensation you deserve if your gum disease has progressed.

What is the average payout for dental negligence?

There are no set compensation amounts for dental negligence. Your total compensation will depend on how serious your injuries or pain are, and how they have impacted your life. 

The Judicial College publishes guideline figures based on previous injuries, but not financial losses. These range from £1,210 for the loss of a back teeth damage to £42,000 for chronic pain. Our gum disease solicitors will help you claim the largest sum possible based on injuries and financial losses.

How long does a periodontal disease compensation claim take?

A periodontal disease compensation claim can take from as little as six months to two years to settle. This depends on many factors, including how easy it is to gather evidence, and whether the organisation disputes your claim. 

We will do our best to settle your claim as quickly as possible. We will also keep you informed throughout and may even be able to arrange interim payments to cover ongoing costs.

Why choose TJL for a periodontal negligence claim?


You should choose TJL for your periodontal negligence claim if you’re looking for a professional service that gets you the compensation you deserve. Since 2000, we have awarded our clients more than £40 million for dental negligence claims just like yours.

We’re based in Manchester and offer a personal service without call centres. Throughout your claim, we’ll keep you informed and use plain language, all guided by our fully trained, SRA-regulated solicitors. You can find out more about our accredited personal injury solicitors or hear from previous clients.

You deserve to get the best from your healthcare provider, and if they’ve failed, we can help. Get in touch with us today for a no-obligation consultation and start your no win, no fee claim.

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