Think You're The Victim Of Dental Malpractice? 4 Questions That Need To Be Answered

When it comes to malpractice, most people think about the relationship between a medical doctor and their patients. However, medical doctors aren't the only healthcare providers that may be guilty of malpractice. Dentists can also be guilty of malpractice against their patients. Unfortunately, patients who have been injured by their dentists don't usually think about seeking compensation for their injuries. If you've been injured by your dentist, and you believe you're the victim of malpractice, you need to speak to a personal injury attorney right away. Here are four things you'll need to be able to prove regarding dental malpractice.

Was There a Dentist/Patient Relationship?

If you believe that you're the victim of dental malpractice, the first thing you'll need to prove is whether there was a dentist/patient relationship. In other words, you'll need to prove that your dentist was actually providing you with dental care at the time of the injury. Your dental records will show the existence of the dentist/patient relationship.

Did the Dentist Violate the Standard of Care?

Like medical doctors, dentists have a specific standard of care that they need to provide to their patients. In issues involving malpractice, that standard of care is violated. Unfortunately, you might not realize that your dentist has violated their standard of care. Some examples of this may include situations such as a dentist leaving bone fragments behind during an extraction, or failing to properly diagnose and treatment periodontal gum disease. If you believe that your dentist has violated their standard of care regarding your dental treatment, you should consult an attorney as soon as possible.

Did You Suffer Injuries as a Result of the Violation?

When it comes to dental malpractice, it's important to note that your dentist needs to go beyond the violation of their standard of care. For dental malpractice to exist, you need to have suffered injuries as a result of the standard of care violation. Injuries can occur when a serious infection results from bone fragments being left behind. Or, when tooth loss or health-related complications occur as a result of misdiagnosed periodontal gum disease.

Is There Proof That the Dentist's Actions Caused Injuries?

Finally, if you believe that you're the victim of dental malpractice, you need to be able to prove that your dentist caused the injuries. Beyond that, you also need to be able to prove that your dentist acted negligently, and that the negligence lead to your injuries. If you've been injured by your dentist, and you believe that they acted negligently, contact a personal injury attorney immediately.

Contact a firm, like Buckley  Law Office, for more help.


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