Dental treatment should make your smile healthier and more comfortable — not create avoidable pain, ongoing problems, or financial loss. However, when a dental professional’s care falls below the standard expected of a competent practitioner and causes harm, you may be entitled to compensation through a dental negligence claim.
At Harris Fowler Solicitors, we specialise in helping individuals pursue these claims with confidence, clarity and a “No Win, No Fee” commitment.
What Is a Dental Negligence Compensation Claim?
A dental negligence compensation claim is a legal process through which someone who has suffered harm due to substandard dental care can seek financial redress. To succeed, three elements generally need to be established:
- Duty of care: The dental professional owed you a responsibility to provide treatment to a reasonable standard.
- Breach of duty: There was a failure to provide care at the standard expected of a reasonably competent dentist.
- Causation of injury: The breach of care directly caused you harm or made an existing condition worse.
This applies whether the treatment was provided privately or on the NHS.
Common Types of Dental Negligence
Dental negligence can take many forms. Below are some of the most frequent issues that can give rise to compensation claims:
Misdiagnosis or Delayed Diagnosis
Failing to identify conditions such as gum disease, oral cancer, decay, abscesses or other underlying problems in a timely or accurate manner is a common cause of claims. These errors can mean a condition worsens unnecessarily or incorrect treatment is given.
Errors During Treatment
Examples include:
- Poorly performed extractions
- Botched root canal treatments
- Incorrect fitting of crowns, bridges or dentures
- Inappropriate fillings or restorative work
- Improperly placed dental implants
These mistakes can lead to pain, infection, damage to surrounding teeth or nerves, and further corrective treatment.
Nerve Damage
Dental procedures — especially wisdom tooth extractions and implant placements — carry a risk of nerve injury which can lead to long-term numbness, altered sensation, or chronic pain.
Failure to Obtain Informed Consent
Dentists are legally required to explain the risks, benefits and alternatives to treatment so patients can make informed decisions. If you weren’t adequately informed and would have declined treatment had you understood the risks, this can form the basis of a claim.
Types of Injuries from Dental Negligence
The effects of negligent dental treatment can vary widely in severity. Common injuries and adverse outcomes include:
- Pain and discomfort that continues long after treatment should have resolved the issue.
- Infection, sometimes resulting from improperly cleaned instruments or procedural errors.
- Loss or damage to teeth that may require expensive corrective procedures.
- Fractured jaw or bone injuries where surgical errors occur.
- Nerve damage with ongoing sensory problems.
What Compensation Can Cover
If your claim is successful, compensation may help cover:
- General damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity
- Corrective dental costs, including future treatments
- Loss of earnings due to time off work
- Travel and care expenses related to treatment or appointments
Each claim is unique and the level of compensation depends on the severity and duration of your symptoms.
How Harris Fowler Solicitors Can Help
Pursuing a dental negligence claim can be complex, especially when expert dental and legal analysis is required. At Harris Fowler Solicitors:
- We offer specialist personal injury expertise, with a focus on dental and clinical negligence.
- Our service operates on a No Win, No Fee basis with no hidden extras, meaning you can pursue justice without upfront financial risk.
- We work with independent dental experts to assess whether the standard of care fell below what should reasonably have been expected.
- We handle the entire legal process — from gathering evidence and expert reports to negotiating with insurers — allowing you to focus on your recovery.
Time Limits to Make a Claim
In the UK, the general rule is that you have three years from the date of negligent treatment — or from when you first became aware that something was wrong — to start a claim. There are exceptions, particularly for children or individuals lacking mental capacity. Early legal advice helps avoid missing critical deadlines.
For a free, no-obligation discussion about your potential claim, contact Harris Fowler today on 0800 213 214
