Teeth damage
compensation claims

If a teeth damage injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

Teeth damage, including chips, fractures, or loss due to trauma or decay, typically necessitates dental interventions like fillings, crowns, or implants.

If you have been affected by a teeth damage injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

You can make a compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.

You are not alone

While there are no official figures on how many people damage their teeth each year in the UK, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people lose teeth or have them chipped, broken, fractured or pushed out of place as a result of an accident or dental negligence.

If you have suffered teeth damage as a result of an accident or substandard dental treatment, you may be eligible to make a compensation claim.

If you decide to make a teeth damage claim, your personal injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you deserve.

For information on teeth damage symptoms and treatment, visit: dental treatment (nhs.uk).

Am I eligible for teeth damage compensation?

You should be entitled to teeth damage compensation if your injury resulted from the negligence or actions of another person or organisation, or from an accident that was not your fault.

Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.

Can I make a claim even if I'm partly liable?

Pinpointing liability for an accident will depend on the context, with different legal principles applying to different circumstances.

In our 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents felt they were at least partly responsible for their accident or injuries.

Even if you were partly at fault, you could still be able to claim compensation. 'Split liability' or 'contributory negligence' are terms used to describe these cases.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long do I have to claim teeth damage compensation?

In most cases, you have up to 3 years from the date of your accident or injury to start a claim.

For an injured child, the three-year limitation period begins on their 18th birthday, giving them until they are 21 to start a claim.

How much compensation can I claim for a tooth injury?

The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:

• the seriousness of your injury, and
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred.

At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.

General damages

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).

Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

Special damages is compensation awarded to cover any financial losses and expenses you incur as a result of your teeth damage or negligent medical treatment. These damages aim to put you back in the financial position you would have been in, had your injury not occurred.

Special damages will also cover your medical treatment expenses, that might include dental filling, root canal, dental crowns and veneers.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

Average teeth damage general damages compensation

The following teeth damage payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, Sixteenth Edition by the Judicial College.

Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).

Can I claim for PTSD or other psychological trauma?

Although psychiatric injuries are less obvious than physical injuries and illness, mental health conditions can be no less debilitating.

Our 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey found that 29.03% of claimants reported a psychological injury, with 70.97% of these relating to a physical injury.

Teeth damage can lead to anxiety about one's appearance, but also worsen anxiety over dental procedures (dentophobia). The latter phobia can make it much harder for an affected person to fix their teeth and alleviate their social anxiety.

Compensation for psychological harm can help you access mental health support and therapies not always available through the NHS.

Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.

Claiming for teeth damage after an accident

Who is liable for teeth damage depends on the nature of the accident and the circumstances in which the accident occurred. For example, if a tooth is chipped by flying debris from a work machine, then a claim may be brought against the employer. If teeth are lost in a school playground, then the defendant may be the local education authority.

The injury lawyer must prove that:

• The defendant can be held legally accountable for the accident; and
• The teeth damage resulted from the accident.

It may not be clear who is responsible for the accident. In that scenario, a claim for compensation may usually still be brought and your solicitor will gather evidence relating to the accident to establish the liable party.

Dental negligence

Dentists must perform dental treatment in a safe and professional manner, in keeping with the "Standards for Dental Professionals" issued by the General Dental Council. Where dentists deliver substandard care, a claim for compensation may be brought.

Dental negligence may lead to a number of diseases of the tooth, including abscesses, tooth erosion, periodontitis and impacted wisdom teeth. More serious injury, such as permanent nerve damage, is less common but can result in facial disfigurement for those affected.

Like other personal injury claims, the compensation amount is dependant on the extent of the injury. It does not matter who caused the accident or how the dental damage occurred.

As an initial step, the injury lawyer will instruct a dental expert to perform an independent dental examination. The dentist will compile a report describing the exact nature of the injuries, with a prognosis for recovery and recommendations for corrective treatment. The dental report will form the basis for any compensation claim.

Common examples of negligent treatment:

• Failing to diagnose or treat tooth decay or gum disease
• Wrongful removal of teeth
• Surgical error, such as the mishandling of an extraction or root canal treatment
• Injury involving crowns, implants or veneers
• Tooth whitening claims
• Damage to facial nerves or jaw during a dental procedure
• Injuries associated with the use of dental anaesthesia
• Failing to warn patients of the risks involved in dental treatment.

What happened?

Claiming compensation for a teeth damage is dependent on how your injury occurred. Click the icons below for more detail:

Work
accidents

Public
places

Road
accidents

Medical
negligence

Other
accidents

FAQs

How long does an injury claim take?

What are my chances of winning my claim?

Will my claim go to court?

Can I claim for someone else?

How long do I have to make an injury claim?

What if a child was injured?

How we can help you with your injury claim

Your solicitor will fight for the best possible compensation settlement for you, and the highly-experienced panel of solicitors have an excellent track record of winning injury claims.

• FREE
  consultation
• Find out
  if you can claim
• No obligation
  to start a claim

Handled with the utmost professionalism... extremely kind, courteous and empathetic.

The Good Solicitor Guide

£100,000 award for delays in hospital treatment

Read more case studies

Author:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Legal Services. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.