Dental Malpractice: How To Report A Bad Dentist
Whatever the reason, seeing the dentist should be considered a health priority, much like your medical concerns. However, what if you, unfortunately, encountered a professional who gave you all the signs of a bad dentist? Do you know how to report a bad dentist?
Do you have a reliable family dentist who oversees you and your family’s dental health? Well, good for you! Not everyone has a dependable dental practitioner to turn to when emergencies happen. We can’t say that it’s because there’s a shortage of dentists in the country. In fact, hundreds of dental professionals practice their line of work in every city and state that you may be in.
Many people do not have a dentist monitoring and keeping tabs on their dental health for two reasons. One, money-related problem since dental rates are usually costly. Two, they may opt not to see a dentist because of a bad experience in the past.
Whatever the reason, seeing the dentist should be considered a health priority, much like your medical concerns. However, what if you, unfortunately, encountered a professional who gave you all the signs of a bad dentist? Do you know how to report a bad dentist?
Dental Malpractice or Negligence: Is it Common?
We have to admit it; almost everyone we know hates to see a dentist. Not because many of them fail to provide quality care. In truth, dental negligence is rare. Case studies from different law firms show that in every seven known medical-related complaints, only one is addressed as a dental issue. However, we cannot say that they don’t happen.
When a patient complains to family members about his dissatisfaction with his dentist’s care, the news would spread about it, leaving the dentist with a wrong perception. This may affect his career and business, so we advise everyone to make their complaints legal and valid instead of resorting to gossips and hearsay.
How to Report a Bad Dentist: Common Complaints
Not everyone has the same dental problems. Just the same, not all dentists have the same techniques and treatments to address these issues. This means that people may have complained of different dental treatments, some more often than the others. Here are some of the most common dental malpractice complaints that lawyers take in.
Complaints post tooth extraction or root canal surgery- Anesthesia-related problems
- Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose the correct dental issue (major disease or cancer-related)
- Unnecessary/Accidental oral nerve damage
- Restorative procedure complications (bridge, crowns, dentures, etc.)
- Post dental procedure infection
- Complications causing death.
Complaints post tooth extraction or root canal surgeryCommon Dental Treatments Patients Complain Most About
We may have said that we all differ in regards to the number of needed dental procedures as individuals. But there are treatments that many people require dental practitioners to perform more often than others. And these common procedures may not go well as planned all the time, whether it be caused by a dentist’s negligence or a more complex dental condition. Here are some of the failed dental procedures that patients commonly complain about.
Tooth Extractions and Root Canals
As the most common dental treatment procedures in the world, it is no surprise that this would get the most complaints. Post-extraction infection, severe pain, and the possibility of having complications after tooth extraction make this complaint valid. Damage to the nerve and bones after a root canal surgery may cause further harm to the patient.
Dental Implant Surgery
As the most expensive dental procedure, you would expect that dental implant surgery should always turn out with perfect results. However, complications can lead to unnecessary costs and damage to the patient, making them question the dentist’s or implant surgeon’s professional capacity.
Restorative Procedures
Failure of the dental appliances to perform their duties in replacing missing teeth can lead to patients searching for ways on how to report a bad dentist.
Periodontal Diagnosis
It is difficult to diagnose a specific periodontal disease during its early stages. However, if a dentist did not perform the correct diagnostics such as x-rays and other probing procedures, misdiagnosis may happen.
Inefficient Orthodontic Solutions
A lot of people complain that their braces or dental aligners take more than the estimated time of correction. Many complained that their dentist confidently sold their services, saying that their teeth alignment problem would only take a few months. Instead, years passed, and they are still wearing their braces and paying for monthly consultations.
Anesthesia Complication
Patients sometimes complain about this to their dentists post-procedure. This is common, whether it is the wrongful injection of anesthesia causing nerve damage or administering insufficient anesthesia causing pain and discomfort during and after the procedure.
How to Report a Bad Dentist
If you or a family member encountered a situation considered as dental negligence or malpractice, you should know the right process to complain about it.
Direct complaint. The first step in resolving disputes with your dentist is to inform them directly of your complaints. Give them the chance to explain themselves. You can apply a complaint form for this. They may give you a reimbursement of your payment. The dentist may also perform corrective procedures to treat or address your dental complications. If you are not satisfied with his actions and reasons, then this may need further assistance to request appropriate legal action.
Peer review. Once you inform your dentist that you are not satisfied with his treatment, and he does nothing to make it right, the next step is to take your concern to a higher authority. Contacting your state’s or country’s dental society can help you. Submit your complaint form to this agency. This prestigious professional dental association investigates and studies your condition. If the verdict favors your side, they get to reprimand and set a penalty for the dentist.
Take it up to the dental board. If the peer review’s impartial mediation does not work, the situation needs the dental board to intervene. Although this scenario rarely happens for minor complaints, the involvement of the dental board gives an ultimatum. The verdict or legal action may either side with you, allowing your dentist to lose his license or against you, deeming your complaint unnecessary and without legal basis.
If you need to find the state dental society in your area to request legal action against your dentist, let the American Dental Association (ADA) help you to settle and resolve your dental issues with your dentist. You can contact Southern Smiles Miranda if you’re looking for a quality dentist in Sydney.
References:
Problems with Your Dentist. (Mouth Healthy brought to you by the American Dental Association. Retrieved and Accessed February 2021).
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/problems-with-your-dentist
How can I complain about a dentist? (Which? Retrieved and Accessed February 2021).
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-can-i-complain-about-a-dentist
How do I complain about my dental treatment? (NHS. Retrieved and accessed February 2021).
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-do-i-complain-about-my-dental-treatment/
Dental Complaints Resources. (Pennsylvania Dental Association. Retrieved and accessed February 2021).
https://www.padental.org/Online/Directory/Complaint.aspx
How to Handle a Complaint with Your Dentist. (Illinois State Dental Society. Retrieved and accessed February 2021).
https://www.isds.org/for-the-public/handling-a-dispute
Treatment Concerns. (Canadian Dental Association. Retrieved and accessed February 2021).
https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/talk/treatment.asp
