If your dentist says cavities can not go away on their own, they are lying. Ask the dentist to show you how your cavity is beyond the first layer of the tooth; then and only then should a cavity be fixed.
Studies show that dentists replace fillings far more than necessary, and that if they suffer a drop in income, they will replace their patients' fillings more frequently. The less someone visits a dentist, the longer their fillings last, because it gives their dentist fewer opportunities to replace them prematurely.
In fact, according to the National Practitioner Data Bank, one out of every seven medical malpractice cases directly involved a dental professional in 2006. Dental negligence can lead to long-term complications and can cause pain for a lifetime.
Some patients wonder whether it's possible to misdiagnose a cavity. The answer is yes, there is always the potential to under or over diagnose a cavity.
But it is a myth that dental cleaning will damage teeth. In fact, the harm caused by not going to the dentist for regular cleanings far outweighs the dangers of the procedure itself.
85% of claims cite poor procedures and techniques for causing injuries. Some of these common injuries include chipped or fractured teeth, gum damage, nerve injuries, infections from equipment, and improper use of anesthesia.
Dental negligence occurs when a healthcare professional has failed to provide adequate care for you. This can include any instances involving incorrect, delayed or poor treatment that has led to further injury or suffering.
Upselling is a great strategy for boosting your bottom line, but it is one that most dentists probably avoid. After all, dentistry is a medical field. Selling patients treatments that they do not need may seem unethical, but there are exceptions.
A dentist who accepts a third party1 payment under a copayment plan as payment in full without disclosing to the third party1 that the patient's payment portion will not be collected, is engaged in overbilling.
There are two main risks to getting fillings: infection and damage. Sometimes when you get a filling, it can pull away from the tooth which leaves a small space open. This space is an area where bacteria can get in and cause more tooth decay and infection. Cavity fillings can also break or fall out completely.
Telling the Truth Provides Your Dentist With Important Information. The most important reason to tell your dentist the truth is that it will help them make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. It lets your dentist know your starting point so they can adjust their suggestions.
Dentists poke teeth during dental exams to identify cavities. If they find a potential cavity, they also poke that area to see how deep the tooth decay is in order to determine if you need filling.
Yes. If you are unsure whether to take your dentist's advice you can get a second opinion.
Making a misrepresentation about a remedy, treatment, device or procedure or failing to reveal the exact nature of a remedy, treatment, device or procedure following a patient's request to do so.
Examples of Dental Malpractice
improper extraction of teeth. failure to diagnose various conditions (e.g., TMJ, oral cancer) failure to properly treat complications of care (e.g., infection) failure to properly supervise or oversee actions of employees (e.g., hygienists)
Doing so means you and your lawyer must prove the five elements of negligence: duty, breach of duty, cause, in fact, proximate cause, and harm. Your lawyer may help you meet the elements necessary to prove your claim, build a successful case, and help you receive the monetary award you deserve.
Talk to Your Dentist
Nothing can't be solved or at least clarified with sincere communication. It only takes a brave heart to approach the other person first. In cases like you feel that your dentist is being rude to you, talk. Let your dentist know how you think about how they speak to you.
Finding quality staff is one of the biggest challenges of running a dental practice. It's only compounded by the major risk of not being able to pay them in the long term if patient billings and collections are insufficient to support their wages.
To be successful, any medical negligence claim must demonstrate that four specific elements exist. These elements, the “4 Ds” of medical negligence, are (1) duty, (2) deviation from the standard of care, (3) damages, and (4) direct cause.
Scaling is a safe and routine procedure and does not damage the tooth surface in any way.
Yes! There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion from a dentist, especially if major dental work is being proposed. A good dentist will understand that you are making an important decision about your health and want you to feel confident about moving forward with their suggested treatment.
Dental neglect is a form of child maltreatment and, if suspected, should be reported to the appropriate child protective agencies.