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Root canal treatment, or endodontics as it is technically known, is a dental procedure that is carried out to treat infection within the centre of the tooth (called the dental pulp).
During the treatment, the dental practitioner will remove the nerve and pulp from the tooth and thereafter clean, fill, and seal the tooth. Assuming the treatment is carried out to a satisfactory standard, a tooth can survive for up to 15 years after root canal treatment.
Unfortunately, we receive a constant flow of claims that consist of substandard root canal treatments. It is a tricky dental procedure that is sometimes difficult to get right.
Not necessarily. Root canal treatment is a procedure used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected.
Unfortunately, despite a dentist’s best efforts they sometimes do fail, particularly if the tooth was badly decayed in the first place.
Successful root canal treatment cases generally concern the following:
We would also investigate several other factors when assessing whether a root canal treatment was negligent, such as the failure to take x-rays (technically known as radiographs) before and after the treatment.
If you decide to contact the Dental Negligence Team, we will ask you to describe the events that have caused your concerns. Sometimes, we may also ask you to obtain your medical records or make a complaint to a dental practice. After we have all the information we need, we will let you know if your potential case has reasonable prospects of success.
Sodium hypochlorite is a bleaching agent commonly used during root canal treatment to clean the canals and pulp chamber of a tooth to dissolve any bacteria present.
In order to prevent a sodium hypochlorite spillage during root canal treatment, a dentist should use a rubber dam, which is essentially a thin piece of rubber that isolates the tooth that is being treated.
Expert evidence suggests that a rubber dam should be used at every stage of root canal treatment, and one must always be used during the second stage. If you have suffered an injury resulting from a sodium hypochlorite spillage during root canal treatment (this can include burns or even nerve injury), this is likely a result of negligence, particularly if a rubber dam has not been used.
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As a general rule, cases concerning substandard root canal treatment should conclude between 12-18 months after the first time you contact us. However, each case is different and this may vary dependent on the facts.
Any compensation received will depend on the injury you sustained. For example, if you sustain an injury to your soft tissues (this would most likely occur from a sodium hypochlorite spillage) you will receive less than if you lose a tooth.
Compensation received following a successful claim for dental negligence will be comprised of:
You can sue a retired dentist, as long as your claim is not statute barred.
By law, all dentists must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC), and must have appropriate indemnity and insurance arrangements in place; this allows patients to seek any compensation they may be entitled to.
Therefore, even after a dentist retires they will still be responsible for the treatment which was carried out when they were practising as a dentist.
You have three years to bring a claim of dental negligence, from the date of negligence or knowledge of it, under the laws concerning ‘limitation’ in England and Wales. These laws state that a Claimant must issue court proceedings within this time period, or else their claim would be statute barred.
Generally, we would advise you to contact us at least 6 months before the limitation period in your case is due to end. However, this can be reviewed on a case by case basis; if you believe that your limitation period may expire soon, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible.