Dental Implants and Dental Malpractice: Most Common Breaches of Care

When a dentist’s conduct and actions fall below the minimum level of care that is expected, and a patient is harmed as a result, the dentist can be subject to a dental malpractice lawsuit. Dental malpractice is a type of personal injury matter in which an agreement can be made outside of court for a financial settlement, or the case may go to court when there is no cooperation or ability to come to a mutual understanding.

If you were harmed by the negligence of your dentist, then you may be able to file a dental malpractice claim. In Florida, the Tampa dental malpractice attorneys at Fulgencio Law can advise you on your legal options and help you with your claim.

Implant Dentistry Top Breaches of Care

Dental implants are becoming a popular way to replace failed and missing teeth, fix broken smiles, and keep the integrity of one’s jawbone strong, and the market is there for tooth replacement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that at least 13.2% of the U.S. adult population aged 65 and over have complete tooth loss.

Dental professionals must be properly trained on dental implant procedures, technology, and best practices so they can effectively and safely treat patients who need tooth replacement. However, mistakes are sometimes made, and this usually happens when a dentist lacks the essential training or fails to take the appropriate steps to plan for the needs of a particular patient. As a result, dental malpractice litigation can ensue from a dentist’s breach of the expected standard of care they owed their patient during the dental implant procedure.

Below are the most common ways that dental malpractice related to implant dentistry occurs:

• Not taking accurate measurements to place the right size of a dental implant.
• Putting a dental implant in a patient that does not have the correct dimensions.
• Improper placement of a dental implant too close to a natural tooth.
• Failing to check the patient’s jaw to ensure there is enough viable bone for the dental implant.
• Not taking the necessary steps in advance of placing a dental implant such as ridge augmentation.
• Mistakes and errors with the bone graft procedure.
• Not placing the dental implant in the right location.
• Performing a dental implant procedure that results in damage to other areas of the mouth or causing nerve damage.
• Failure to place an implant in the mouth at the right angle.
• Not doing the necessary procedures before placing an implant can lead to injuries such as pneumatized sinus or significant bone loss.
• Not waiting long enough after a natural tooth extraction to place an implant.

Call Fulgencio Law Today

Patients who need tooth replacement may decide that dental implants are the best method for doing so. Any medical procedure can cause a patient to be nervous while waiting for their appointment, including the dental implant procedure. However, a patient can seek to calm their nerves by envisioning the health and cosmetic benefits they believe will come after their procedure. When the opposite happens, and a patient is harmed by the negligence of a dentist, then a dental malpractice suit can help a patient recover financial compensation.

If you were harmed by a dentist in Florida, you may call a Tampa dental malpractice attorney at Fulgencio Law at (813) 463-0123 to have your case evaluated during a free consultation.