Case studies

Get a grip

10 December 2010

A member’s inadvertent slip with a dental elevator during a routine extraction resulted in the patient making a claim.

Receiving notice of a claim
Claim for alleged inappropriate treatment defended

28 February 2007

The DDU defends a claim for alleged inappropriate treatment.

Management of dental pain

19 December 2006

A dentist provided an emergency consultation on a Thursday evening for a patient complaining of severe pain in the upper right quadrant of her mouth. The patient was not an NHS registered patient at the practice and the dentist clearly explained that it would therefore be necessary for her to pay a private fee of £50.

Fainting following extraction

27 February 2003

A 12-year old fainted following administration of anaesthetic for a series of extractions. The mother alleged that the dentist had injected her child five times giving excess anaesthetic.

An optimistic claim

5 June 2002

A patient's tooth fractured during extraction and the remainder of the root was surgically removed 5 months later. The patient claimed damages in excess of £60,000, most of which related to loss of earnings.

Damage from air polisher

7 April 2002

Alleged damage to upper central incisor during tobacco stain removal with an air-jet polisher by a dental hygienist.

Child in pain

Can a dentist treat a child in the absence of either medical history or parental authority?

Erroneous extraction
Erroneous extraction

A patient in her 60s attended her dentist, a DDU member, complaining of pain in the upper right quadrant of her mouth.

Faulty equipment
Faulty equipment

A 35-year-old female patient attended her dental practice for a routine restoration on the LL7.

Injury during implant procedure

A 50-year old male patient attended his dentist for extraction of his UL6 retained root, and replacement with an implant retained crown.