No Win, No FeeTooth extractions are common procedures that should go smoothly, but mistakes can happen. In rare cases, a dentist may remove the wrong tooth, causing unnecessary pain and additional treatment. Since this should never occur, you could seek compensation by filing a wrong tooth extraction compensation claim against the negligent dentist.
Our dental negligence team is here to help. We offer a free consultation to assess your case, and if eligible, we’ll ask a medical negligence solicitor on our panel to connect with you. If they decide to take your case on, it will become less stressful because of their No Win, No Fee service. That means you’ll only pay solicitor’s fees if your claim is won. Furthermore, you won’t be asked to pay for your solicitor’s work in advance either.
To talk to us right away about a dentist who pulled the wrong tooth, call 0800 652 1345.
Did Your Dentist Need to Carry Out a Tooth Extraction?
There are several reasons why teeth need to be extracted by dentists. One common reason is if you’ve got an infection in the tooth that’s causing a lot of pain. Extraction of the tooth may be necessary to prevent the condition from worsening or to stop the infection from spreading.
Gum disease is another reason that a tooth might need to be extracted. In this scenario, it might be necessary for multiple teeth to be removed if too much damage has occurred in the supporting gums and bone.
Where there’s no other option, your dentist might recommend that you have a tooth extracted. Of course, if this is the recommended course of action, it’s important that the correct tooth is removed. If the dentist pulls out the wrong tooth, it’s likely dental negligence has occurred and you could be compensated as a result.
Am I Entitled to Compensation for a Wrong Tooth Extraction?
Before a wrong tooth extraction compensation claim can proceed, a dental negligence solicitor will assess whether:
- The care provided by your dentist did not meet the standard expected of a qualified professional, which constitutes negligence (breach of duty).
- Consequently, the dentist removed the wrong tooth, directly causing you harm. This is known as causation.
A wrong tooth extraction is classed as a “never event“, something that should never happen in dental care. However, unless the dentist admits fault, your solicitor will usually consult an independent dental expert with similar experience to assess whether they would have acted differently. Their findings will help determine whether your claim has legal merit.
Once dental negligence is established, your solicitor will also gather medical reports and supporting evidence to prove how the error has affected you, including pain, additional treatment costs, and long-term complications.
To find out if you could claim compensation for a wrong tooth extraction, contact our team today for free legal advice.
Common Examples of Wrong Tooth Extraction Claims
A wrong tooth extraction is a serious error that can lead to unnecessary pain, complications, and the need for further treatment. Below are some scenarios that could lead to a dental negligence claim:
- Extraction of a healthy tooth: Removing the wrong tooth due to misdiagnosis, poor record-keeping, or a clerical error, leading to unnecessary pain and further dental work.
- Failure to extract the correct tooth: If the problematic tooth remains untreated, the original issue may worsen, requiring additional procedures, prolonged pain, or infection risks.
- Nerve damage: Extracting the wrong tooth in close proximity to nerves can lead to ongoing pain, numbness, or tingling in the mouth, jaw, or even face.
- Bite and alignment issues: Unnecessary tooth extractions can disrupt the alignment of surrounding teeth, potentially requiring orthodontic correction.
- Infections or complications: If a dentist pulled the wrong tooth without proper post-operative care, it may increase the risk of infection, dry socket, or excessive bleeding.
- Unnecessary financial costs: Patients may require dental implants, bridges, or dentures to replace the mistakenly extracted tooth, adding to treatment expenses.
If you’ve experienced a wrong tooth extraction due to dental negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. We can assist you in starting a claim against an NHS or private dentist. Contact our team today for free legal advice on your case.
What Evidence Do I Need for a Wrong Tooth Extraction Claim?
Whether you claim for compensation against an NHS dentist or a private dental provider, your claim will usually be processed by NHS Resolution or a private insurance company. In either case, you’ll only be compensated if it can be proven that the dentist’s negligence caused you to suffer. As such, the types of evidence you could use to prove wrong tooth extraction include:
- Dental records: A good starting point is for your solicitor to request copies of your dental records. These can be used to show how your teeth were before and after dental treatment and as evidence that the wrong tooth was extracted.
- A statement from you: Your solicitor will ask you to describe how you have been affected by the removal of the wrong tooth. This will help to explain what impact the error made and what pain you had to endure.
- Witness statements: Additionally, your solicitor might ask friends and family to provide a statement to confirm how you’ve suffered because of the dentist’s negligence you’re claiming for.
- Photographic proof: It’s always a good idea to take pictures of any visible dental injuries. If your camera or phone can do so, include a timestamp and take various pictures throughout your recovery.
- Correspondence: If you’ve complained about your treatment, try to keep a copy of any response in a safe place. Similarly, if you have any emails from the dental surgery about your treatment, print them out. These could be reviewed by your solicitor and used as evidence.
- A diary of events: You may wish to record the effects of your injuries in a diary. This could help you to remember when you had to miss out on events or couldn’t work because of your injuries. Also, you could note any costs or expenses you incurred as well.
When you call our team, an advisor will look through any evidence you’ve secured for free. If anything else is needed, they’ll let you know or they could pass your case to a dental negligence lawyer.
What Is the Time Limit to Make a Wrong Tooth Extraction Claim?
There is a time limit associated with claiming compensation for wrong tooth extraction. It is a 3-year limitation period that will begin from:
- The date the dentist pulled the wrong tooth out; or
- The date you found out that the wrong tooth had been taken out (date of knowledge).
Importantly, if a child has had the wrong tooth taken out, their time limit does not start until their 18th birthday. However, parents or guardians can start a compensation claim on behalf of the child before then.
We would suggest that it’s best to begin your claim as quickly as you can. This should make it easier to secure evidence to support your case. Furthermore, you’ll find it easier to discuss how you’ve suffered as a result of your injuries.
How Much Compensation for a Wrong Tooth Extraction Can I Claim?
Any compensation you might get for a wrong tooth extraction isn’t a fine or penalty that the dentist must pay. Instead, it’s designed to get you back into the same position (or as near as possible) to where you were before the dental negligence occurred.
As such, there’s no set amount payable for wrong tooth extraction compensation but a settlement could be based on:
- The pain and suffering endured because of the tooth extraction and subsequent treatment, and loss of amenity.
- Any psychological injuries you’ve suffered caused by anxiety, embarrassment, depression and other similar conditions.
- Travel costs associated with follow-up treatment such as parking, fuel or public transport fares.
- Care costs if someone needed to look after you while you were recovering.
- Any impact your injuries have had on your social or family life.
Can I Claim for Loss of Earnings Due to My Dental Injuries?
If you had to take time off work to recover or undergo corrective treatment after a wrong tooth extraction, you may be able to claim for lost earnings as part of your compensation. This could cover:
- Loss of salary if you were not paid in full during your absence.
- Missed bonuses, commissions, or overtime due to your inability to work.
- Travel costs if you had to attend multiple dental appointments.
In more serious cases, where complications from the extraction have long-term effects, you could also claim for future loss of earnings.
To see how much compensation you might be paid for your dentist pulling the wrong tooth, call us on 0800 652 1345.
Will I Need a Solicitor to Claim Wrong Tooth Extraction Compensation?
Having a solicitor who specialises in dental negligence claims on your side can make the claims process a lot easier. It could also mean you’ve got more chance of winning compensation. However, we know that many people worry about the costs of hiring a solicitor to represent them.
For that reason, we have a team of No Win, No Fee solicitors. If your case is taken on, you won’t need to pay their fees in advance and there won’t be any to pay if your claim is lost.
The contract our solicitors use is called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Once signed, they can begin working on your case. The CFA sets out the claims process and what your solicitor will do for you.
It also explains that a success fee is payable should you be paid compensation. The success fee is a fixed percentage of your settlement amount to cover your solicitor’s work and any associated costs. You can be sure that you’re not being overcharged because, by law, the maximum you’ll pay when using a CFA is 25% of your compensation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Claim If I Didn’t Realise My Dentist Pulled the Wrong Tooth Until Later?
Yes, if you only discovered the mistake later (e.g., at a check-up or when symptoms persisted), you may still claim compensation. The 3-year time limit could start from the date of knowledge rather than the extraction date.
Can I Claim If I Signed a Consent Form Before My Tooth Was Extracted?
Crucially, signing a consent form does not mean your dentist can act negligently. If they removed the wrong tooth, this is still a never event and could be considered dental negligence.
What If My Dentist Offered to Fix the Mistake for Free?
Even if your dentist corrects their error, you may still claim for pain, inconvenience, lost earnings, and additional treatment costs caused by the original mistake.
What Happens If I’ve Suffered Emotional Distress?
Compensation can include damages for psychological distress as well as physical pain. If the experience has left you feeling anxious about future dental visits or caused lasting emotional suffering, this could be factored into your claim.
As with physical injuries, psychological suffering must be medically assessed. Your solicitor may arrange for an independent medical expert to evaluate how the incident has affected your mental well-being.
Start a Wrong Tooth Extraction Compensation Claim Today
Our team of personal injury specialists are ready to help if you have decided to seek damages after having the wrong tooth removed. The easiest way to begin is to call us on 0800 652 1345 for a free claim review and advice on your options.
If you do decide to proceed, and your claim is accepted, your solicitor will do all they can to secure compensation on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Please use live chat to contact us if you have any further questions on wrong tooth extraction compensation claims.
