If you have suffered dental negligence, you might not know what to do or where to go. Suffering from the pain of dental maltreatment and having to deal with oral health problems can make you feel stressed, anxious and depressed, and you may think that you have no way to seek redress or to deal with the after-effects.
Fortunately, there are a number of organisations that can help you out. You should speak to medical negligence solicitors to start a compensation claim for dental negligence and receive the money you need to put things right. You should also get in contact with the General Dental Council (GDC) (visit www.gdc-uk.org or call 0845 222 4141), which can put you in touch with dentists who can remedy your problems and can even bring sanctions against the negligent dentist or stop them from working any more.
The Dental Complaints Service (visit www.dentalcomplaints.org.uk or call 08456 120 540) can also help people who have been the victim of dental negligence in private healthcare facilities. This is a fair, impartial and independent service that is funded by the GDC. The GDC can also point you in the right direction for NHS-related enquiries – the organisation you will speak to will depend on your location in the UK.
Swelling and Pain following Dental Negligence
The only way to deal with the after effects of dental negligence is to have remedial treatments. While oral health problems may respond to home treatments, such as Corsodyl mouthwash, flossing, antiseptics or a new toothbrush, if dental maltreatment is to blame then the problems will be more difficult to remedy. You will likely require surgery or new dental work to remedy the underlying problems.
The GDC and medical negligence solicitors can put you in touch with qualified dentists who will be able to deal with your problems, and ideally you should have this treatment as quickly as possible. Until that time, any pain or swelling you have to endure could be alleviated by over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol, aspirin or anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen.
Regardless of how serious the pain is, you must not go over the recommended dosage of these drugs, as the consequences of overdose can be fatal, but you should have the maximum allowed dose. This is only a short-term measure, as long-term heavy use of painkillers can also cause serious health problems.
If your pain is particularly severe and standard over-the-counter painkillers do not work, you should speak to a doctor to receive prescriptions for more powerful drugs, such as those containing codeine.
Bleeding following Dental Negligence
There are no fast home remedies that can deal with bleeding gums. If you are bleeding from the mouth due to an incorrectly-fitted filling, a tooth extraction or any other dental procedure, you should contact your dentist as quickly as possible. You may be able to make an emergency appointment.
If you do not wish to visit the same dentist again because of their dental negligence, then speak to the GDC or the NHS to find an alternative practitioner who can help you out and make an appointment immediately.
Dental negligence can lead to a huge range of oral health problems, including mouth ulcers, swollen and painful gums, or halitosis, and these are frequently seen alongside bleeding gums. If you are concerned that these could be a sign of other problems – for instance, you might be taking anti-coagulants, aspirin, blood-thinning medicines or similar drugs, or you might have a bleeding disorder or another medical condition – then speak to your GP.
It is unlikely that dental negligence will lead to a medical emergency, but if you are particularly worried about your health or wellbeing, then call 999 immediately. Bleeding could also be a sign of shock, so if your skin feels wet, clammy, sticky and cold, you should call an ambulance.
Discomfort following Dental Negligence
You might not be able to describe your symptoms as being painful or your gums as being swollen, and might not have any bleeding, but you might still think you have been the victim of dental negligence. Discomfort is not uncommon in the days after dental treatment, but if it lasts for a long period of time, then your dental work might have been performed badly. The only solution is to speak to a dentist for remedial treatment.
Remedial treatment can be particularly expensive and you might have to miss work to receive it. Therefore, you should speak to medical negligence solicitors so you can start reclaiming the money you lost due to clinical negligence.
