Take the pain out of expensive dental disasters
WITH more of us now having to go private — and pay higher rates — for our dental treatment, it is even more important to know what your rights are should something go wrong.
The action you can take in the event of, for instance, root canal surgery having been carried out incorrectly, the wrong diagnosis of a condition, or the removal of a healthy tooth, differs between private and NHS clients.
Until recently there was little private patients could do apart from employing the services of an explain treatment options can all result in compensation running into thousands of pounds.
And the good news is that it need not cost you a penny. No-win, no-fee arrangements have removed the financial risks involved in chasing someone through the courts and are expected to result in a flood of claims being made over the coming years.
Former dentists David Corless-Smith and Greg Waldron, who both re-trained as lawyers, spotted the opportunity provided by no-win, no-fee eight years ago and set up the Dental Law Partnership.
Although nothing in the law is black and white, people can usually only bring claims within three years of either the treatment being carried or the point they became aware there was a problem.
The compensation sought will cover the pain and suffering of the problem itself, as well as the inconvenience and expenses involved in undergoing any corrective treatment.
