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Wisdom Teeth Negligence Claims Solicitors in Manchester

If you have suffered complications or injury due to negligent wisdom tooth treatment, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

Having wisdom teeth extracted is one of the more common dental procedures, but is still serious and complex in nature. If it is performed in a negligent manner this could lead to pain, distress and on-going complications, and you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

Wisdom teeth may need to be extracted if they become impacted or decayed, if there isn’t enough room in a person’s mouth or if the tooth itself has erupted in the wrong direction. If your dentist fails in their duty of care when extracting a wisdom tooth it could lead to damage which would otherwise have been avoided.

If your wisdom tooth extraction has gone wrong in some way then contact TJL to discuss starting a claim for compensation. Negligent wisdom tooth extraction can cause physical and psychological distress as well as leaving you needing further expensive dental treatment.

If we think your dentist fell below the reasonable standards expected of a professional then we’ll work with you to claim the compensation we think you’re entitled to.

How much compensation could I receive for a wisdom teeth negligence claim?

The compensation paid for a successful wisdom teeth negligence claim will vary from case to case, but should range from a few thousand pounds for relatively minor injuries up to more than ten thousand pounds for cases which are more severe. When any compensation is calculated it will be based on the following factors:

There will be an amount which reflects the physical and psychological pain and suffering caused by your negligent wisdom teeth treatment. Other impacts factored in will include things like the inconvenience caused by your injuries and changes to things like eating and sleeping habits.
There will also be an amount to cover the costs of any future treatment required to put the issues caused by the negligent wisdom teeth extraction right. As well as any corrective dental treatment needed, these costs could cover things like therapy to deal with the anxiety and trauma of negligent dental treatment.
Finally, a part of any compensation paid will be intended to cover any costs which are directly linked to the wisdom teeth negligence. This could include any earnings lost because you need to take time off work, as well as the cost of travelling to and from any dental appointments required and the bills for the actual dental treatment itself.

The part of the compensation relating directly to any injuries caused by the wisdom teeth negligence will be calculated with the help of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a specialist publication listing suggested payment ranges for specific injuries.

Following an independent evaluation we will have a full understanding of the nature and severity of your injuries and will be able to estimate the amount of compensation we think you could be entitled to. Once we’ve reached a calculation we’ll negotiate for 100% of the amount we think you deserve.

Amounts from the latest edition of the JCG which might be relevant to a wisdom teeth negligence claim include the following:

Fractured jaw leading to a complete recovery following a period of immobilisation -£7,880 to £10,660
Loss or damage to back teeth, per damaged tooth - £1,330 to £2,080
Loss or serious damage to several front teeth - £10,660 to £13,930
Permanent nerve damage following wisdom tooth extraction - from £20,000

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What are the common reasons for wisdom teeth negligence claims?

If anything goes wrong with your wisdom tooth extraction because your dentist acted in a negligent manner while performing the procedure then you may be able to make a wisdom teeth negligence claim.

The more common reasons for people to make wisdom teeth compensation claims with TJL include the following:

Nerve damage – the dentist damaged nerves close to the wisdom tooth extraction point, including those known as the lingual nerves and the inferior alveolar nerves. This kind of damage could cause numbness or a persistent altering of sensation in your chin, lip or tongue.
Infection – if your dentist fails to prevent post-extraction infection through poor after-care, insufficient information on post-extraction hygiene or a failure to spot an infection once it occurs then they may have been negligent. Infections of this kind, if not spotted and treated, can be extremely serious.
Damage to adjacent teeth – if your dentist doesn’t prepare for the wisdom tooth extraction in the right way or doesn’t take proper care during the procedure then they could damage the teeth on either side of the wisdom tooth itself.
Fractured jaw – if your dentist doesn’t have the skill to extract a tricky wisdom tooth they could break your jaw during the procedure. Negligence in this case could also involve failing to refer you to a specialist to carry out the wisdom tooth extraction.
Missed Diagnosis – your dentist may have acted negligently if they fail to diagnose an impacted wisdom tooth which then goes on to cause more problems than it would if diagnosed and treated.
Informed consent – your dentist should inform you of the risks of wisdom tooth extraction and any possible alternatives before carrying out the procedure. If they fail to do so then they have not been given informed consent for the extraction, and so may have been negligent.

What needs to be proved in a wisdom teeth negligence claim?

For a wisdom teeth negligence claim to be successful you need to prove the following:

The dentist performing the wisdom tooth extraction failed to meet the duty of care they had for you as their patient. This should be apparent if the treatment they delivered when extracting your wisdom tooth is compared to the treatment delivered by other dentists performing similar procedures.
The result of this failure to meet the expected duty of care was that you suffered harm. This harm could be physical or psychological in nature and in most wisdom teeth negligence claims it will be a combination of the two.

In addition to the direct physical and psychological impact of a negligent wisdom teeth extraction any compensation you receive will be based on expenses which you have had to meet as a direct result of the negligent treatment. This could include earning lost through time off work and the cost of further corrective dental treatment.

What steps should I take following negligent wisdom teeth treatment?

If you think that the wisdom teeth treatment you received was negligent and could form the basis of a compensation claim then you should take the following steps:

Write down a record of the treatment, including dates, the pain you have experienced, the follow-up treatment offered by the dentist and any other symptoms you feel are relevant.
Seek out a second opinion and remedial treatment from another dentist. This will create a formal record of the negligent treatment you’ve received as well as improving your chances of making a recovery.
Contact the experts at TJL for a free initial consultation. If we think that your wisdom teeth extraction was negligent we’ll explain how the claims process works.
With our help you should then gather the evidence needed to support your wisdom teeth negligence claim, such as dental records and an independent expert evaluation.

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Do I Have A Dental Negligence Claim

Your dentist was supposed to fix a problem. Instead, you’re dealing with the consequences of dental treatment that left you worse off, like suffering constant pain or needing further procedures. You want to know: do I have a dental negligence claim?

We understand how traumatic it can feel to be let down by your dentist and left in pain and requiring further treatment.

Making a wisdom teeth negligence claim may seem like a daunting prospect when you’d rather concentrate on your recovery, but we take as much stress as possible out of the process by breaking it down into individual steps.

We then guide you through those steps in a caring and empathetic manner, working to win the compensation we think you’re entitled to and giving you the space and time to recover:

Once we decide that you have the grounds for a wisdom teeth negligence claim we’ll take down a detailed statement, in which you describe the treatment you received from your dentist and the impact any negligence has had on you.
We’ll arrange for an independent dental expert to examine you and evaluate the treatment you received. They will then produce a report setting out exactly what went wrong with your wisdom teeth treatment, what the prognosis for any recovery is and whether you will require further treatment.
We’ll gather the evidence needed to support your compensation claim. This will include but not be limited to:
- Photographs of any injuries caused by the wisdom teeth treatment
- Statements from witnesses such as friends and family describing the impact the negligent treatment has had on you – particularly the psychological impact
- Your dental records from before and after the negligent wisdom teeth treatment
- Any medical records which relate to the negligent wisdom teeth treatment, such as painkillers or antibiotics prescribed
- Details of any therapy or counselling needed to cope with the psychological impact of the negligent wisdom teeth treatment
- Information on the financial impact of the negligent wisdom teeth treatment and supporting documents like bank statements, wage slips and receipts for direct expenses such as dental bills
We will contact your dentists to inform them that you intend to seek compensation for negligent treatment. In the majority of cases the other party will accept liability at this point.

Our commitment to dispute resolution and swift settlement wherever possible means that the vast majority of the wisdom teeth negligence claims we take on are settled without having to go to court.

We will negotiate a fair compensation payment based on the physical and psychological effect the wisdom teeth negligence has had on you, and any direct financial impact. We aim to settle claims as quickly as possible, but never settle for anything less than 100% of the compensation we think you deserve.
In a small number of cases the compensation claim has to be settled in court. If this happens we will support you throughout and present the details of your claim in the strongest and clearest possible terms.

How long should I be in pain after a wisdom teeth extraction?

Some pain is perfectly normal after a wisdom teeth extraction, but if your pain is more severe or lasts for a longer period than would be expected then it could be a sign that something has gone wrong. At the very least, pain which lasts longer than expected is worth mentioning to your dentist.

Factors which could increase the pain experienced following a wisdom teeth extraction include an infection setting in or a blood clot being dislodged from the wound (also known as a dry socket).

Although the recovery from a wisdom teeth extraction will vary from case to case, if all goes well it should comply with the following pattern:

During the first 24 hours blood clots will form on the wound
During the next 2 to 3 days the swelling present in the mouth and cheeks should reduce
Seven days after the wisdom teeth extraction a dentist will be able to remove any stitches put in place
Between 7 and 10 days the stiffness and aching in the jaw should improve
By the time 2 weeks have passed any mild bruising of the face should have healed

How long does a wisdom teeth negligence claim take?

Depending upon factors such as the complexity of the injuries caused, a wisdom teeth negligence claim could take just six months

For a relatively simple case with minor injuries up to more than 2 years for a case involving more serious injuries. We always work to resolve claims as quickly as possible but the actions of the other party can sometimes slow the process down.

If liability has been admitted but the compensation amount is yet to be agreed we will apply for interim payments. These will help to cover on-going costs such as medical and dental bills until a final settlement is agreed.

Is there a time limit on making wisdom teeth negligence claims?

Yes, there is a limit of 3 years from the date of the negligent wisdom teeth treatment or the date on which you became aware that the treatment had been negligent.

After 3 years you will no longer be able to start a compensation claim, with the following exceptions:

If you were under 18 at the time of the negligent wisdom teeth treatment. If this is the case then the 3 years will run from your 18th to your 21st birthday.
If you lacked the mental capacity to start a claim during the 3 year period. If this is the case then the 3 years will run from the date on which you regain the capacity to claim.

Despite the 3 year limit being in place we always recommend starting a wisdom teeth negligence claim as soon as possible after the treatment takes place. It will be easier for us to establish the impact the treatment has had on you soon after the event, and your own memories of the treatment will still be fresh in your mind.

Can I make a no win no fee wisdom teeth negligence claim?

Yes, if you make a wisdom teeth negligence claim with TJL we’ll work on a no win no fee basis. This means that we won’t take any money while we gather the evidence to support your case and negotiate a compensation payment with the other party.

You’ll only have to pay a success fee if you win compensation, and if you lose the case then expenses such as the costs of the other side are covered by insurance we take out on your behalf. Our no win no fee approach means that you can claim compensation for wisdom teeth negligence on the basis of fairness and the impact the negligence has had on you, without having to worry about costs.

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Wisdom Teeth Negligence FAQs

Can you claim compensation from a retired dentist?

Yes, you can claim wisdom teeth compensation from a retired dentist. All UK dentists have to be registered with the General Dental Council and take out insurance to cover potential compensation claims.

Even though they are retired, a dentist will still be responsible for the treatment you received from them, and will have to pay compensation if it’s proved that they were negligent.

Can you claim compensation from an NHS dentist?

Yes, you can claim compensation from an NHS dentist or a private dentist on exactly the same basis. If your claim against an NHS dentist is successful then the compensation will be paid by the indemnity body of the dentist in the vast majority of cases or, if the dental treatment took place in a hospital, by the NHS Resolution Fund.

Will my wisdom teeth negligence claim go to court?

There’s a very small chance that your wisdom teeth negligence claim will go to court, since 95% of all the claims we handle are settled outside court. If your claim is one of the few that has to be settled in court then the team from TJL will be right by your side throughout.

Why should I choose TJL for my wisdom teeth negligence claim?

The first reason why you should choose TJL for your wisdom teeth negligence claim is that we have an incredible track record of winning compensation for our clients. In simple terms, we win more than 95% of the claims we take on, and over the past 25 years we’ve won no less than £43 million for our clients.

As well as unrivalled legal expertise and experience we offer tailored and empathetic client care. When you claim with us you’ll get clear jargon free communication from day one as well as individual support and access to any additional services you need.

We take on the work and stress of gathering evidence and building your claim so that you have the time and space to concentrate on recovering. Having us in your corner means never settling for less than 100% of the compensation we think you’re entitled to, including helpful interim payments wherever possible.

We work on a no win no fee basis so you can start your claim free from concerns over spiralling fees or hidden costs. If you’ve been let down by a dental professional then you can claim compensation with TJL and never have to worry about being out of pocket.

Contact TJL today to discuss your wisdom teeth negligence claim and take the first step toward the compensation you deserve.

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Washbrook House, Lancastrian Office Centre, Talbot Road, Manchester, England, M32 0FP
0161 877 1066

TJL Solicitors LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (registered number: OC367616) and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number: 564906). Registered office: Washbrook House, Lancastrian Office Centre, Talbot Road, Manchester, England, M32 0FP. A list of our partners can be found here. We use the word partner to refer to a member of the LLP.