You will have undergone cosmetic dentistry to improve the overall look of your teeth, so it can be both physically and psychologically challenging if you have been left with failed cosmetic dentistry. If you have experienced injury as a result of negligent cosmetic dental treatment, we can help you to get your smile back through a claim for compensation.
You may have experienced:
- loss of vitality of teeth due to ‘over-preparation’ (removal of excessive tooth enamel)
- failure to adequately cool the tooth during veneer preparation, leading to loss of strength of the tooth’s substance
- excessive sensitivity after placement of white composite fillings, or failure of the white fillings
- carrying out work in too many quadrants of the mouth at one time, which can affect a person’s bite and cause longstanding issues and pain.
Find out more about when negligence may have occurred in our full guide to negligent cosmetic dentistry here >>
What kinds of procedures can I claim for?
We can help with a wide variety of cosmetic dentistry claims, including for negligence in the process of:
- crown and bridgework
- orthodontic work
- gum contouring
- veneers (where part of the tooth enamel is removed and replaced with a thin shell of porcelain or composite material to improve the appearance of a tooth)
- bleaching/tooth whitening
- the replacement of amalgam fillings with white composite cosmetic fillings.
In order to succeed in a dental negligence claim you must prove both breach of duty (aka evidence of substandard care) as well as causation (aka what harm stemmed from the substandard care). You must prove both elements in order to succeed.
Recent cases
£55,000
Cosmetic dentistry
Ben Lees recovered £55,000 for a Claimant who had received negligent cosmetic dental treatment by three different dentists at the same practice.
The Claimant had wanted a “smile makeover”, but rather than obtaining the aesthetically pleasing smile she had wanted, her teeth were over-prepared (which means that too much healthy tooth tissue was removed before veneers and crowns were fitted). As a result, the Claimant suffered infections and bone loss, and required numerous extractions. The Claimant underwent a protracted course of treatment to put things right, including root canal treatment and the placement of several implants. The award of £55,000 covered the Claimant’s original treatment costs, as well as the cost of her remedial treatment.
£50,000
Cosmetic dentistry
Naomi Todd acted for a 39 year old client who received £50,000, following substandard cosmetic dentistry. The client attended her dentist for help with her overcrowded and stained teeth and received veneers and bridgework, which was unsatisfactory.
The client suffered from sensitive teeth and had to have all the veneers and bridge work removed, whilst she underwent treatment for periodontal disease and root canal treatment. The client required further cosmetic dentistry and would likely require implants in the future.
£30,000
Cosmetic dentistry
Samantha Swaby acted for a 63 year old client for substandard crown work. The client had wanted to improve her smile and underwent the placement of 10 crowns. The client lost her lower right molar as a result of the substandard crown placed. The substandard crownwork was a significant contributory factor in the client’s periodontal condition and she required extensive periodontal treatment as a result. The client had to undergo the painful and protracted treatment involved in the fitting of the implants. Furthermore, the client had to undergo several additional dental appointments, causing pain and distress, in order to restore her detention which could have been avoided.
How long will it take to make a claim?
The length of a dental negligence case depends on the individual facts of the case itself, although as a rule of thumb most simple claims should be dealt with within 18-24 months.
You can find out more about the process of making a claim here.
How much compensation might you receive? How is it calculated?
The amount of compensation you receive will depend entirely on the circumstances of the case and your personal situation, as it is calculated based on the pain and suffering you have experienced as well as any loss you may have incurred as a result (perhaps through further treatment to attempt to ‘fix’ the issue).
You can find out more about compensation and how it is calculated here.
Our specialist team of dental negligence solicitors have been winning cases for clients for over a decade and are specific cosmetic dentistry specialists.
We have a national reputation for our work and represent clients from across the UK in dental negligence claims. We work closely with our dental experts who are also leading consultants within their field and will ensure that the best experts are working with us, for you, from start to finish.
