The most serious dental malpractice case relates to a patient dying from complications of a dental procedure. This can be due to an overwhelming improperly treated dental infection or as a complication of improper administration of general anesthesia or conscious sedation. A complication of oral surgery is the possible permanent damage to the nerve that goes to the lower jaw, face, chin and lips. Occasionally, the nerve going to a patient's tongue can be damaged or there can be direct trauma to the tongue from a high speed dental drill. The result can be permanent loss of sensation or taste.
Patients are sometimes injured from dental extractions or good teeth may unnecessarily be removed by mistake. When a tooth is removed after a patient has had cancer radiation treatment to the supporting jaw, the entire jaw can later be lost due to osteoradionecrosis. Some dental malpractice cases involve the dentist's failure to do something that should have been done such as failure to diagnose and treat periodontal disease or oral cancer. Sometimes a dentist perform dental treatment for which the patient did not consent.
A dental malpractice case can result from failed or improper orthodontic procedures on adults or children. The unnecessary removal of teeth for orthodontics and the failure to present all alternatives is a problem. Improper orthodontic care can cause a debilitating TMJ and headache problem. Occasionally, a root canal can cause permanent numbness by harming an adjacent nerve. Many dentists previously uses a toxic root canal filling material called Sargenti or N2 paste. The use of this paste now prohibited in most areas of the US.
Orthognathic surgery can sometimes result in serious complications that deform a patient's face or result in constant headaches. The need for additional unanticipated corrective surgery many result in a dental malpractice case. Routine dental care such as the construction of a dental bridge or crown can cause later tooth loss or cosmetic disasters. This is especially true is the procedures were performed by an unlicensed or untrained dentist.
