Can i sue my dentist for putting on a crown on the wrong tooth?
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Can i sue my dentist for putting on a crown on the wrong tooth?
Hi i went to the dentist today and my dentist put
a crown on the wrong tooth. The tooth that the
crown was put on there was nothing wrong it.
Thanks please let me know what could i do
Asked on August 12, 2017 under Malpractice Law, Illinois
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Yes, this would be malpractice: a medical care or act that was unreasonably careless. You could sue to recover the money paid for the wrong procedure; for any additional medical costs this causes you; and if it causes some long lasting significant negative impact on your life, possibly something for "pain and suffering." Be advised, however, that to sue for anything more than a return of your money, you'd have to have a dental expert (i.e. another dentist) examine you and testify about the impact of putting the crown on the wrong tooth, any follow-up dental care needed, etc., and hiring a dentist to do that can be expensive (medical or dental expert witnesses can easily chare $1,500 - $3,000 for the examination, any tests, writing a report, and testifying), which expense you'd have to bear yourself (you can't get it back from the dentist you would be suing).
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Yes, this would be malpractice: a medical care or act that was unreasonably careless. You could sue to recover the money paid for the wrong procedure; for any additional medical costs this causes you; and if it causes some long lasting significant negative impact on your life, possibly something for "pain and suffering." Be advised, however, that to sue for anything more than a return of your money, you'd have to have a dental expert (i.e. another dentist) examine you and testify about the impact of putting the crown on the wrong tooth, any follow-up dental care needed, etc., and hiring a dentist to do that can be expensive (medical or dental expert witnesses can easily chare $1,500 - $3,000 for the examination, any tests, writing a report, and testifying), which expense you'd have to bear yourself (you can't get it back from the dentist you would be suing).
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