Dental malpractice can often times be overlooked when we think about medical malpractice claims. However, it does fall under the same category, and catastrophic dental errors are more common than one may think.
It is not unheard of for dentists to operate outside their scope of training and expertise, especially in cosmetic dentistry. They are paid large amounts of money to perform procedures that sometimes they have never done before, yet they do not divulge that information to the patient. Sometimes unnecessary procedures are even performed for the sake of increasing revenue.
One of the most common types of catastrophic dental errors is nerve damage. For example, if a dentist is fitting a patient for veneers and he grinds the teeth down too much, he could cause significant, irreversible nerve damage. These kinds of injuries cause excruciating pain with little to no relief. Another type of error could be a broken tooth that will require further work and money to be repaired. Nerve damage can also result in loss of taste and/or smell.
If you have been injured by a dental procedure gone wrong, it could be in your best interest to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Again, catastrophic dental errors are valid claims for these types of lawsuits, and should absolutely be addressed. Time is of the essence in these types of cases because there are statutes of limitations that will bar filing after a certain date. Seek out representation immediately.