What Constitutes Dental Malpractice?

Your teeth are just as important as other parts of your body and your healthcare routine. Unfortunately, dentists can sometimes be guilty of negligence when working on your teeth. For example, they may have injured you, pulled the wrong tooth, or misdiagnosed a condition, only to make things worse. 

But what constitutes dental malpractice? Below, we’ll review how you can determine whether your dentist has committed malpractice or not. The lawyers at The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo are ready to help if you believe you’ve suffered dental negligence. 

Dentist’s Standard of Care 

In Florida, dental malpractice is defined as a violation of their standard of care. Dentists are expected to maintain a minimum standard in their practice. If they fail to do that, they could face penalties for their actions. They could also face disciplinary action from the Florida Board of Dentistry for multiple complaints against the dentist

First, you may need to prove the dentist didn’t meet these standards. Your dental malpractice lawyer can determine this based on whether the dentist failed to diagnose your problem, gave you unnecessary treatment, operated on the wrong tooth, or injured you while performing a dental procedure, as a few examples. 

Serious Injury or Illness Due to Malpractice 

Once you’ve shown your dentist was negligent with your safety, you’ll also need to prove they injured you. Let’s say you were given a root canal on the wrong tooth. You’ve not only gone through a painful and costly procedure. You’ll still need to have the tooth that needed a root canal cared for. 

That’s a serious expense and a lot of pain you shouldn’t have to go through. Because of this, your dental malpractice lawyer will work to gather evidence for your claim that you were injured by your dentist’s actions. 

Seek Answers for Dental Malpractice with a Lawyer 

Dental malpractice can be as serious as medical malpractice, but you may be unsure what constitutes dental malpractice. Luckily, your lawyers at The Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo can help. We can determine whether you’re facing a dental malpractice claim, and we can help you seek compensation for your injuries. For a free consultation about your claim, call 561-659-6366 or complete the online contact form below.