Teeth Damage
Compensation Claims

Things to consider when you claim for teeth damage

• You can claim if your injury happened at work, on the road, in a public place, or due to dental medical negligence.
• General damages compensation can range from around £1,500 for damage to back teeth to over £40,000 for chronic tooth pain. Check our compensation calculator to see how much you could claim.
• Special damages can also cover dental treatment, corrective surgery costs, and lost earnings.
• Most claims must be started within 3 years, but acting sooner will help your claim succeed.
• Claims are managed on a no win, no fee basis, reducing financial risk.

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 No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.

Traumatic dental injuries are common - you are not alone

According to the British Dental Journal, the most common cause of traumatic dental injuries are accidental falls (41.15%), followed by assaults (23.35%), bicycle accidents (14.3%), sports injuries (7.46%) and road traffic accidents (4.75%) (nature.com).

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 need to move forward.

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

How much compensation can I claim for teeth damage?

Compensation for tooth damage or the loss of one or more teeth is dependent on:

• the severity of your injury,
• how your injury disrupts your life and work,
• any costs or financial impacts you?ve suffered due to your injury.

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

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

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Average teeth damage general damages compensation table

The following teeth damage payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).

These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.

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

Teeth loss or damage

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 2024 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.

Am I eligible for teeth damage compensation?

You can claim compensation for teeth damage, if:

• you were injured in the last 3 years, and;
• another person was at fault, and;
• that person owed you a legal duty of care.

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 2024 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.

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 are required to provide treatment in a safe and professional manner, adhering to the 'Standards for Dental Professionals' set by the General Dental Council. If your dentist failed to meet these standards and you suffered an injury as a result, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

Dental negligence can lead to various conditions, including abscesses, tooth erosion, periodontitis, and impacted wisdom teeth. In more severe cases, it can cause permanent nerve damage, sometimes resulting in facial disfigurement.

Like other personal injury claims, compensation depends on the severity of the injury, regardless of who caused the incident. As a first step, your lawyer will arrange for an independent dental examination. The dentist will produce a detailed report outlining the injuries, prognosis, and suggested corrective treatment. This report will form the foundation of your compensation claim.

Common examples of negligent dental treatment include:

• Failure to diagnose or treat tooth decay or gum disease
• Wrongful tooth removal
• Surgical errors during extractions or root canals
• Injuries from crowns, implants, or veneers
• Tooth whitening mishaps
• Damage to facial nerves or jaw during procedures
• Injuries related to dental anaesthesia
• Failure to warn patients of treatment risks

How the cause of your damaged teeth impacts the claims process

The claims process is influenced by how your teeth damage occurred. Click the icons below to find out more.

Work accidents Public places Road accidents Medical negligence Other accidents

Sources

Author:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. 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.