Can you sue a dentist for a bad root canal?

Can I sue my dentist? Yes, but only when you have suffered a permanent and significant injury as a result of dental negligence. You most likely cannot sue for the following common but unsatisfactory outcomes: you felt excessive pain at the time of the treatment but it has now settled.

How long does a root canal last on a molar?

After a root canal, it may only last another 10-15 years. However, there are ways to help your tooth last for the rest of your life. You can have it crowned, which will add extra strength and durability to the tooth.

Can a root canal cause problems years later?

With proper care, even teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime. But sometimes, a tooth that has been treated doesn’t heal properly and can become painful or diseased months or even years after treatment.

What happens if antibiotics don’t work on tooth infection?

If the tooth isn’t treated, it can cause the bacteria to enter the roots. The bacteria will then feed on your nerve tissues and blood vessels. This allows them to spread and multiply, wreaking havoc in your mouth.

What happens if antibiotics don’t work for tooth infection?

If oral antibiotics do not fix your abscess, you’ll need to return to the dentist. In some cases, you’ll need to visit an emergency dentist for treatment of the infected tooth. This is when IV antibiotics or extraction are needed. This is also the case when you first notice the abscess.

How are root canals and dental malpractice related?

Failing to properly clean out the inside of the tooth is also dental malpractice. Sometimes part of the root, which is removed in a root canal, is left inside of the tooth. This causes the root to rot and become infected, which causes horrific pain, swelling, and damage to a victim’s mouth.

How does a dentist treat a root canal?

If the dental tissues surrounding the diseased pulp are still in good shape, the dentist carries out a root canal treatment. This involves opening up the tooth, removing all the pulp, treating the inside of the roots of the tooth with different chemicals, then filling it with an inert material and placing a crown on the tooth.

Which is the most common type of Dental Malpractice?

One of the most common types of dental malpractice cases involves root canals. This is a procedure which people automatically hate right away, and the thought of a dental professional making a mistake to make the root canal more painful is even worse.

How many people have died from dental malpractice?

Of the eight deaths, three were children. Of the defendants, four were oral surgeons, two were pedodontists, and six were general dentists. There were 11 malpractice claims under this category. The infections resulted in four fatalities, two brain abscesses, and one case of septic arthritis.

Failing to properly clean out the inside of the tooth is also dental malpractice. Sometimes part of the root, which is removed in a root canal, is left inside of the tooth. This causes the root to rot and become infected, which causes horrific pain, swelling, and damage to a victim’s mouth.

Can a dentist be sued for a botched root canal?

If the dentist rushed a root canal procedure and sealed the tooth without fully removing all infected pulp, the infection may continue to worsen and require additional procedures to fix. Nerve injury is the most commonly cited reason for medical malpractice claims for root canals.

Why did my tooth break after a root canal?

FWIW, every tooth I’ve ever had root canaled eventually shattered. The dentist said the nerve dies & without proper blood supply the tooth becomes very brittle & ultimately breaks. Always made me wonder why I went thru all of the expense & torture . . .

How many dental malpractice cases are filed each year?

Dental malpractice affects thousands of people each year. At least five percent of all medical malpractice lawsuits are filed against dentists. ¹ There are more than 200,000 practicing dentists in the United States. ² With each dentist seeing about 2,500 patients annually,…