can I sue my dentist??

[vannah]

I posted on here a month ago as I had been suffering from agonizing shooting pains in one of my teeth. I followed the advice but the pain remains there.

I actually hadnt been to the dentist at all in the last few years, then 2 months ago, paid a visit to the hygenist at a new dental surgery (never seen a hygenist prior to this) followed by a minute filling 2 weeks later

I told the dentist that I had been suffering with some pain in one tooth (close to the one he filled) and he said that there was no cavity to be seen on the xray, it must be related to a cold...?
After the filling, the pain intensified, and although I went back for another xray and 2nd opinion by different dentist at same surgery, 2 months on the pain is still there.
I can only say it coincides with the time that I saw the hygenist, followed by the filling. Before this my teeth were great.

I am really sick to death of eating on one side. I curse the hygenist and the dentist everytime I sit down to eat, and all the pleasure in eating a good meal or enjoying a tasty snack is out of the window.

any idea what i can do???

thankyou

ew so you still don't know what's wrong? could be a gum infection. can't say i really trust hygenists.

please see another dentist though, i neglected pain and have paid with getting the most awful abscess this weekend. pain is so not worth ignoring.

To be able to sue you have to show:

1. that there was a standard and usual way of a) doing what the hygenist did or b) doing the filling or c) the x-ray
2. that the standard and usual way wasn't followed
3. in not following the standard and usual way, the dentist or hygenist did something that no competent dentist or hygenist would do

Then you have to show that if there was negligence that the negligence caused your loss.

So - to sue, you would need an independent expert to look at you, your dental records and x-rays and give an opinion.

You can fund claims like this through your household insurance if you have legal cover and this type of claim is covered.

Enough of the boring legal stuff - can you go to another surgery for another opinion?

i don't think you could sue them for making a toothache worse.
I'd definitely get a third opinion though, and don't tell them which tooth you think it is- I have many a time thought I had toothache in a particular place and it's turned out to be another tooth entirely. so they may well be right about the tooth not having a cavity or anything

Referred dental pain is very common apparently. I had a hideous abscess under a lower back molar and have felt pain from in in practically all the teeth on that side top and bottom Its fixed now but my dentist said its very common and he always does a full assessment when someone presents with dental pain and doesnt necessarily rely on where the patient is reporting the pain. I think in your position I'd either go back and insist on a full assessment to identify the source of your pain or seek a third opinion at another practice.
Feel for you, toothache sucks

Sueing sounds a bit desperate - why not go back to the dentist and ask them to fix it. I had a problem with my tooth after a filling and I had to go back twice to have it filed down a bit. I think it can be difficult to get the level just right and I had sensitivity and shooting pains.

Why not give them a ring and let them know that you are still having problems.

As an aside, a friend of mine had terrible problems with one of her teeth and her dentist pulled a tooth out because she was in pain. It turned out she had trigeminal neuralgia - nothing to do with her teeth at all, so may be a trip to the doctor's?

thanks everyone. Right, sueing is complicated and maybe a bit OTT but am so livid.
Will go to see another dentist...