The panic of going to the dentist is a relatively common fear for many Houston residents. Although most of the time these fears are unfounded, cases occasionally emerge involving a dentist facing serious allegations of substandard care. When a dental provider fails to follow acceptable standards, patients and families may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
One widely reported case involved a dentist in another state accused of running what patients described as a troubling practice geared toward children. Allegations included unnecessarily pulling teeth and not using anesthesia during dental procedures. One mother brought her 2-year-old son in after he fell off his bike and cracked his two front teeth. According to reports, he left the office missing four teeth, and the mother said the dentist never consulted her about removing them.
According to the same reporting, when the child returned for a follow-up appointment intended to address his upper teeth, he came out with bruises around his neck and gauze on his lower teeth instead. His pediatrician reportedly found a scalpel mark from ear to ear on the boy’s gum. Dozens of patients were reported to have filed complaints with similar allegations about their children receiving negligent care, and state health regulators moved to investigate the practice.
What Families Can Do When a Child Is Injured by a Provider
When a child suffers from a negligent medical or dental provider, the effects can include both physical trauma and lasting psychological impact. Medical providers have a duty to provide compassionate and skilled care for their patients, and when they fail to provide acceptable care, they can be held liable for the resulting harm.
Families who believe their children have suffered from inadequate dental or medical care may want to speak with a legal professional experienced in medical malpractice. An attorney can review the medical records and help determine what happened and whether the standard of care was met. Compensation may be available for unexpected medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages tied directly to the harm caused.
Dentists Are Essential Providers, But Accountability Still Matters
Dentists are necessary members of the medical community, and the overwhelming majority, including pediatric dentists, provide excellent, careful care for their patients. But when a provider is found to have injured a patient through negligence, they can be held accountable for the damages that result.
If you or your child has experienced an unexpected injury after dental or medical treatment, our medical malpractice attorneys can help you understand your options. Contact Davis & Davis for a free consultation to discuss what happened.
Source: MyFox28Columbus.com, “Dentist ran ‘House of Horrors,’ mistreated children,” Csaba Sukosd, May 22, 2015
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Malpractice Claims
Can I file a malpractice claim against a dentist in Texas?
Yes. Dentists are held to a professional standard of care like other medical providers, and patients injured by a dentist’s negligence may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim in Texas.
What should I do if I suspect my child was harmed during dental treatment?
Get your child evaluated by another medical professional, request copies of the dental records, and speak with an attorney experienced in medical malpractice to review whether the standard of care was met.
What damages can be recovered in a dental malpractice case?
Depending on the case, damages may include medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses directly tied to the harm caused, subject to Texas’s caps on certain malpractice damages.
How is dental malpractice different from a bad experience at the dentist?
Malpractice requires showing the provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and that this failure caused harm, not simply that the visit was unpleasant or the outcome was disappointing.
Who reviews complaints against dentists in Texas?
State dental boards handle licensing complaints, which is a separate process from a civil malpractice claim. An attorney can help you understand how both avenues may apply to your situation.
