Dental Care and the Standard of Care

Dental professionals, like physicians, are bound by a duty of care to their patients. When a dentist, oral surgeon, or orthodontist fails to meet the standard of care expected of a competent professional in their field, and a patient suffers harm as a result, dental malpractice has occurred. In Oklahoma City, dental malpractice claims are less common than physician malpractice claims, but they are no less valid and no less deserving of serious legal attention.

Common Forms of Dental Malpractice

Dental malpractice claims in Oklahoma City frequently involve nerve damage from improperly extracted wisdom teeth, failure to diagnose oral cancer during routine examinations, unnecessary tooth extractions, improper placement of dental implants causing bone or nerve damage, and anesthesia errors during dental procedures. These injuries can cause chronic pain, permanent facial disfigurement, loss of function, and significant emotional distress — all of which are compensable under Oklahoma’s malpractice laws.

Nerve Damage as a Serious Dental Injury

One of the most significant injuries that can result from dental negligence is damage to the inferior alveolar or lingual nerve during a tooth extraction or implant procedure. This damage can cause permanent numbness, tingling, or pain in the jaw, chin, lip, or tongue. An Oklahoma City Medical Malpractice Lawyer at Smith Barkett Law Group can evaluate whether the nerve damage resulted from a departure from the standard of care and pursue compensation on your behalf.

Failure to Diagnose Oral Cancer

Dentists have a professional obligation to screen for signs of oral cancer during routine examinations. When a dentist fails to identify suspicious lesions, ulcerations, or tissue changes that a competent professional would have recognized as warranting further investigation, and the patient’s oral cancer advances as a result, that diagnostic failure may support a malpractice claim. As with other cancer misdiagnosis cases, the delayed detection of oral cancer can significantly worsen the patient’s prognosis.

Proving Dental Negligence in Oklahoma

Dental malpractice cases require expert testimony from qualified dental professionals who can review the provider’s records and procedures and offer an opinion on whether the care met the accepted standard. Smith Barkett Law Group has the resources and expert network to pursue dental malpractice claims with the same rigor and determination it brings to physician malpractice cases. Victims of dental negligence in Oklahoma City deserve the same quality of legal representation as any other malpractice victim.

No Upfront Fees, No Risk to You

As a trusted medical malpractice lawyer around the Oklahoma City area, Smith Barkett Law Group handles all malpractice claims — including dental negligence — on a contingency fee basis. You will not pay any attorney fees unless the firm recovers compensation for you. A free consultation is available, and the team is ready to evaluate your case and advise you on the best path forward. Contact Smith Barkett today and take the first step toward accountability.