Parner
No matter what your age, losing your teeth is a physical and psychological blow. Tooth loss interferes with your appearance, your ability to chew, your speech, your general health, and your sense of self-esteem. For some, dental implants are a marvelous innovation, providing replacement teeth that are permanent and work just as their natural teeth did. But what happens when dental implants fail?
Too many patients have found out the hard way that all the pain, discomfort, time, and expense of obtaining dental implants has been a waste. If you’re one of these patients, you should contact Lance Ehrenberg, Esq., one of the principal attorneys at Dental & Podiatry Malpractice Lawyers of New York.
He will evaluate the specific circumstances of your situation and determine whether you have been a victim of dental malpractice. If so, he will use his extensive experience and legal knowledge to fight vigorously for the compensation you deserve — through smart negotiations or skillful litigation.
What exactly are dental implants?
Unlike dentures, which are prosthetic teeth that are removable, dental implants are permanent fixtures that are actually drilled into the jaw to replace natural teeth. They are used to replace not only teeth missing due to injury, disease, or aging, but teeth so decayed or diseased that removing them is the healthier choice. Once dental implants are effectively in place, they function just as the patient’s original teeth. Unless something goes terribly wrong.
While problems can arise even when a fully competent dentist (periodontist, oral surgeon, or cosmetic dentist) performs the implant procedure, there are circumstances in which dental error causes permanent damage and the negligent professional must be held accountable. In such cases, it is critical to engage the services of an experienced dental malpractice attorney with a strong track record of success.
How Dental Implants Go Wrong
Though frequently advertised as a simple cosmetic procedure that takes little time and provides nothing but the satisfaction of an improved smile, dental implants require serious oral surgery and all surgery involves risks.
In addition to the general risks of any surgery — e.g. blood clots, breathing difficulties, adverse reactions to anesthesia or medications — dental implant procedures may result in:
- Nerve damage, often leading to numbness or pain, particularly of the inferior alveolar or lingual nerves
- Injury to blood vessels
- Damage to sinuses
- Damage to surrounding teeth
- Bacterial infection such as peri-implantitis (affecting both gums and adjacent teeth)
If you have experienced these or other problems as a result of receiving dental implants, the possibility that your dentist may be to blame should be investigated thoroughly to determine whether you are entitled to damages. Contacting Lance Ehrenberg is a good first step and will cost you nothing. We work on a contingency basis, meaning that you will pay no attorneys’ fees until we win you compensation.
Mistakes Dentists May Make Before, During, or After Dental Implant Procedures
Dental negligence takes many forms. You may be considered a victim of dental malpractice if your dentist has:
- Failed to take and heed a detailed medical history (e.g. failing to note poor bone quality, an allergy, or some other underlying condition)
- Planned the procedure inadequately, not preparing for contingencies
- Improperly placed or angled the implants
- Injured a nerve or other body part
- Caused an infection through improper sterilization of surfaces or equipment
- Failed to recognize and treat an infection in its earliest stages or a hole into the sinus
Unfortunately, even more egregious examples of negligence also occur, such as performing the implant procedure on the wrong patient or replacing the wrong teeth. Whatever your dentist has done before, during, or after your dental implant procedure that has caused you harm, Dental & Podiatry Malpractice Lawyers of New York is here to help you recover from the trauma — physically, emotionally, and financially.
Contact Our Capable Dental Malpractice Attorney to Find Justice
Dental malpractice may have left you with permanent deformity, impairment, serious pain, and emotional anguish. In addition, you have undoubtedly lost a tremendous amount of money in surgical and other medical and dental costs, not to mention lost income.
You may feel that you are being opposed by the weight of the whole dental community, but you can trust our Dental Malpractice attorney to level the playing field and fight aggressively to win you the compensation you are entitled to receive.