Have you experienced harm that could have been avoided had a dental professional upheld their duty of care to provide care of the correct standard? If so, this could constitute dental negligence. You might be wondering whether you can claim compensation and how much you could be owed if dental negligence has occurred. In some cases, you could use a dental negligence claim calculator to work out the potential settlement that could be awarded following a successful case.
A compensation calculator considers different factors, including the type of harm you suffered and the severity as well as whether you needed any time off work, to provide an estimate of what you could be owed following a successful claim. We provide further information on using a calculator as we move through our helpful guide.
Additionally, we discuss a dental professional’s duty of care in more detail as well as provide examples of how negligent treatment from a dentist or other dental professional could occur and the eligibility criteria that need to be met to make a claim.
Furthermore, we look at how to prove dental negligence claims by giving examples of the evidence you could collect to strengthen your case.
Finally, we provide guidance on the benefits of working with an expert dental negligence solicitor from our panel under No Win No Fee terms.
If you have any other questions about making a compensation claim, you can get in touch with our team of helpful advisors. They can offer free advice 24/7. To reach them, you can:
- Call 0800 408 7827.
- Fill out our form via the ‘Contact Us‘ page.
- Use our live chat feature.
Jump To A Section
- What Is A Dental Negligence Claim Calculator?
- When Can You Claim Compensation For Dental Negligence?
- Examples Of Dental Negligence
- How Do You Prove Dental Negligence?
- Why Make A No Win No Fee Dental Negligence Claim?
- More Resources About Making A Dental Compensation Claim
What Is A Dental Negligence Claim Calculator?
A dental negligence claim calculator, or compensation calculator, is a tool that can be used to get an estimate of the payout you could potentially be awarded following a successful case.
They work by considering the details of your specific claim, including the type of harm you suffered, the severity, how long your recovery period is, the treatment you needed, and the long-term impact the harm you suffered has had on your quality of life.
They also consider certain financial losses incurred, such as lost income. However, they do not take into account all monetary expenses. Additionally, payouts are calculated using evidence and other resources that give a more in-depth insight into the way you have been affected. As such, it’s important to keep in mind the estimate you receive from a calculator could differ from the settlement you’re awarded.
How Much Compensation For Dental Negligence?
As mentioned, how much compensation is awarded for dental negligence can differ. Generally, though, successful dental negligence claims can see a settlement awarded that comprises up to two heads of loss:
- General damages: This primary head of loss compensates for the physical and mental pain and suffering caused by the dental negligence. When calculating this head, reference can be made to a medical report generated through your attendance at an independent medical assessment. This can be arranged for you as part of the claims process. Also, the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can be referenced. This document contains guideline compensation brackets for different types of harm.
- Special damages: This secondary head of loss compensates for the financial losses incurred due to dental negligence. For example, if you have needed to take time off work to recover and have incurred a loss of income as a result, this could be compensated under special damages. Other costs include care costs and medical expenses. Evidence will be required to prove these losses so keep hold of receipts, payslips, and invoices to help substantiate your case.
Dental Negligence Claim Calculator
Below, you can find a table containing amounts from the JCG, with the exception of the first entry. The table can be used as an alternative to a compensation calculator.
Please only use the table as a guide as payouts awarded in successful dental negligence claims will differ depending on the unique circumstances of each case.
| Harm Type | Severity | Award Brackets - Guidelines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious illness/injury with special damages | Serious | Up to £50,000+ | Compensation to address the serious physical and/or psychological impact of dental negligence and the financial effect, such as lost income, care costs, and medical expenses. |
| Fractures of jaws | Very serious multiple fractures (i) | £30,490 to £45,540 | The injury is followed by prolonged treatment and permanent consequences, such as severe pain, eating restrictions, and paraesthesia. |
| Serious fracture (ii) | £17,960 to £30,490 | There are permanent consequences including difficulty opening the mouth or with eating. Alternatively, there will be paraesthesia in the jaw area. | |
| Simple fracture (iii) | £6,460 to £8,730 | Immobilisation will be required but there will be a complete recovery. | |
| Damage to teeth | Significant | Up to £38,130 | Significant, chronic, tooth pain, such as from an untreated abscess, lasting for a period of years and causing significant deterioration in the overall condition of the teeth. |
| Loss or serious damage (i) | £8,730 to £11,410 | Numerous front teeth. | |
| Loss or serious damage (ii) | £4,350 to £7,630 | Two front teeth. | |
| Loss or serious damage (iii) | £2,200 to £3,950 | One front tooth. | |
| Loss or damage (iv) | £1,090 to £1,710 | Back teeth. This is calculated per tooth. |
If you have any other questions about using a dental negligence claim calculator, reach out to our team today. They can also provide a free valuation of your case and give an estimate of what you could potentially be owed for the effects of dental negligence. Additionally, they can further advise on how compensation payouts are calculated.
When Can You Claim Compensation For Dental Negligence?
All dental professionals, including dentists, dental nurses, and dental surgeons, owe their patients a duty of care. This means they need to provide care that meets the correct standard. If there has been a failure to do so and you have suffered avoidable harm as a result, you might wonder whether you’re eligible to make a claim and seek compensation.
The dental negligence claims eligibility criteria that must be met for you to have valid grounds to pursue compensation are as follows:
- A dental professional owed a duty of care.
- They breached their duty.
- You suffered avoidable harm as a result of the breach.
If you have experienced avoidable harm because a dentist or other dental professional was negligent, please call our team. An advisor can assess your case and determine whether you have valid grounds to make a dental negligence compensation claim.
Examples Of Dental Negligence
Below, we have provided some examples of how a dentist could provide care falling below the correct standard and the impact this could have.
- A wrong tooth extraction could occur if the dentist failed to identify the correct tooth for removal. This could mean an additional and unnecessary procedure is needed to remove the correct tooth.
- A poorly performed procedure. For example, a root-canal procedure carried out using the wrong tools could lead to nerve damage. Alternatively, the use of unsanitised tools could lead to the patient developing a bacterial infection.
- Your oral cancer is not diagnosed despite having the usual symptoms. The delayed diagnosis and delayed treatment leads to the cancer worsening.
It’s important to note that dental negligence compensation claims are not always possible for harm suffered following a dental procedure. You must have evidence that a dental professional breached their duty of care and caused you to suffer avoidable harm as a result.
Contact our team today to find out whether you are able to claim dental negligence compensation and how much you could be owed for the effects. They can also provide additional insight into using a dental negligence claim calculator to get an estimate of your potential payout. Alternatively, continue reading to learn more about how to prove your case.
How Do You Prove Dental Negligence?
Evidence should prove that a dental professional breached their duty of care when treating you. It should also prove that you suffered avoidable harm directly from this.
Here are examples of proof that you can collect:
- Photographs of any visible effects of dental negligence, such as scarring, bruising, or missing teeth.
- A diary recording your symptoms and dental treatment as well as any psychological effects.
- A copy of your dental or medical records, such as those that show your damaged teeth.
- The contact details of anyone who attended your appointment with you. This means witness statements can be taken at a later date.
If a solicitor from our panel takes on your case, they can help you gather evidence to prove dental negligence as part of the services they provide. They have experience handling dental negligence claims and assisting claimants in seeking compensation.
Find out more about whether you’re eligible to have a solicitor from our panel work on your case by calling the number above.
Why Make A No Win No Fee Dental Negligence Claim?
You should contact our team to establish the eligibility of your dental negligence claim. If you are eligible to seek compensation, you could be connected to one of the expert No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel. They can offer you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement.
CFAs can be hugely beneficial because, as a claimant, you do not need to pay fees for your solicitor’s services during these times:
- Before the process of your claim begins.
- As your claim proceeds.
- If your claim has an unsuccessful outcome.
If your claim is successful, then a small percentage of your compensation will be deducted and paid to your solicitor. This is known as the success fee. However, the percentage has a legal cap to ensure that the majority of your compensation remains with you.
Contact Us
We hope this guide on using a dental negligence claim calculator to get an estimate of the potential settlement that could be awarded following a successful case has been helpful. However, if you need any further guidance or have any questions about the eligibility criteria for dental negligence claims and proving your case, please contact our helpful team.
An advisor can also assess your case for free and determine whether you’re eligible to seek compensation. Additionally, if you have valid grounds to proceed, they may connect you with an experienced No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel.
For more information, you can:
- Call 0800 408 7827.
- Fill out our form via the ‘Contact Us‘ page.
- Use our live chat feature.
More Resources About Making A Dental Compensation Claim
We also have guides on medical negligence claims:
- Learn about how hospital negligence claim payouts are calculated and what they could comprise following a successful case.
- See whether you might be able to claim for medical misdiagnosis after a medical professional breached their duty of care.
- Learn about seeking medical negligence compensation and when you could be eligible to proceed with your case.
For further external resources:
- An NHS guide on steps to take if dental treatment carried out by the NHS goes wrong.
- Learn what standards of care to expect from a dental professional with a guide from the General Dental Council (GDC).
- Find out if you could seek statutory sick pay from GOV.UK.
Call if you have any other questions about using a dental negligence claim calculator and when you could be eligible to seek compensation.