DD and broken teeth

[instanaan]

DD11 was in a drama lesson at school, wrapped up in a dust sheet that was being used as a prop when a friend pulled it and she landed on her face, breaking and dislodging both front teet.

The teeth are being supported by a wire,she is in pain, can't eat and we are looking at a potential lifetime of dental treatment.

She's just started year 7 and was just about settling down after a very rocky start when this happened and it's a real set back. The school don't seem that bothered by it and have for example, given her a detention for not handing in homework on the day it happened (because she was at the dentist getting emergency repair).

AIBU to pursue this further with the school or is it just one of those things. I have lost all sense of perspective but feel so emotional and upset by this incident.

She wrapped herself in the sheet messing about. Sorry her fault and accidents happen. The school will have liability insurance but claims push their preimunims through the roof - removing more money from school budget

Can't advise on the legal situation I'm afraid but we had almost exactly the same injury a few months ago with one DC and just wanted to lend a hand on the stress side. People who haven't gone through this think "broken tooth, aah well", but actually it's got potentially quite serious long-term ramifications both psychologically as well as dentally.

We were told that if DC ends up with both teeth being removed/falling out then it's possible to have an auto-implant at age 13. Sounds a great solution until you realise they remove a tooth from the back, do something to it and implant it in the front. That's a large dental surgery to have age 13.

I don't know if the school can be sued for this, but if the parents had third party liability then they could be, which makes me think the school may have some liability here. There are potentially thousands on dental fees here to be paid for the rest of her life and I don't think it's unreasonable to sue. I'd first speak to some lawyers though and get a few legal opinions on it.

This isn't about everybody suing to make money from schools, there's a genuine, long term issue here: if she loses her two front teeth, she cannot have artificial implants before she's 18 (because the jaw is growing). That means a lot of dental work to avoid speech issues, plus the resulting self-esteem issues as she navigates teenage years.

Fuck that! No way would I make them go to detention for not handing in homework on the day they hair teeth smashed it AT SCHOOL!! I’d be fuming op. Hope she’s ok

I dont know how it works for schools, but we are currently pursuing a claim against the NHS (never thought I would but they nearly killed newborn DD and neglected by after birth care causing injury) and were told that we need to go through the complaints process first. Send a formal complaints letter to the school as a first port of call. Do not mention money but do detail any pain, suffering or injury including emotional pain, anxiety, dental, time off work etc. Contact a few local no win no fee personal injury solicitors and see what they say. It sounds awful and the school dont seem to have taken it particularly seriously.

my DS smashed his front adult tooth - it was reconstructed
I broke my front tooth 30 years ago and my dentist still insists it can’t be repaired, because it’s a biting tooth so any repair would just snap off. Apparently the only option would be to fully remove the tooth and wire a false tooth into the jaw.

Re: the above.

Speak to a different dentist?

Though the type of injury/damage obviously impacts the possible outcome. I can absolutely assure you my DS's front tooth was re-built successfully (on the NHS) I've posted about it previously if you want to search my posting history.

Tbh I'm quite shocked at the number of posts proposing litigation against the school.

From what's been posted I can't see this as anything but a very unfortunate accident, though I don't at all under estimate the stress/pain/worry of being in this situation.

I have a smashed front tooth - it was repaired quite successfully on the NHS and I've not had problems for years. You can barely even see the repair anymore - I mostly forget it's even there.

Personally I don't see the accident is the schools fault. Sounds like your DD was messing around and got hurt. I'm sorry your DD was injured but surely at 11 she can take some responsibility for messing about in a dust sheet?

Put it this way- if this happened at your house would you expect a parent to sue YOU?

If the teacher (or in ‘your house’ scenario) wrapped the child up or ordered/suggested it and the child fell due to negligence then that’s a different matter.

She chose (from what I understand) to be wrapped up and another child - playing - caused a fall.

You don’t sue over that.

That said, I would be very upset with the school for their blasé attitude and would have expected more concern! That’s very disappointing.

Put it this way- if this happened at your house would you expect a parent to sue

But it didn’t happen at OP house! It’s like saying an adult at work had an accident that cause serious injury saying Oh well it’s Ok, as it could have happened at home

This is why we now have health and safety protocols and policies in place.

Personally I’d raise a claim, the school can then start their internal H&S investigation.

OP:

Consult a solicitor and find out the legal possibilities.

Don't rely on MN for legal advice,
especially not when this could affect your child's entire life