Dental malpractice can be committed by a variety of dental professionals including orthodontists, dentists and periodontists. Dental malpractice laws vary by state. Generally, however, dental malpractice occurs when an injury is sustained as a result of negligent dental work. Like medical malpractice cases, the inquiry by dental malpractice lawyers in dental malpractice cases is focused on the departure from the standard of care for the given procedure. Dental malpractice attorneys seek to determine if the questionable conduct was below the standard of care.

Injury from a failed dental procedure, which may surface immediately or occur even later, can produce symptoms that are temporary or permanent. The dental malpractice lawyers at Clifford Law Offices assist individuals who have been injured as a result of a failure to diagnose a disease or infection, negligent dental surgery and gross negligent dental work that results in permanent injury. Improper administration of anesthesia and failure to obtain consent are other sources of injury that can lead to a lawsuit by a dental malpractice law firm.

Dental malpractice injuries can come as a result of improper procedures, including:

• Root canal
• Crowns or bridges
• Tooth extraction
• Disease diagnosis
• Administration of anesthesia

Injuries as a consequence of dental malpractice can result in:

• Nerve damage (lips, jaw, chin, tongue)
• Mandibular/Jaw damage
• Infection
• Advanced oral cancer
• Advanced periodontal disease
• Loss of taste

A dental malpractice lawyer from Clifford Law Offices may be able to assist you with your case. In litigating these lawsuits, the firm's dental malpractice attorneys develop the cases to determine if the patient has been the victim of improper treatment, negligent diagnosis or surgery, and investigate if defective dental products or drugs were involved. Clifford Law Offices represented the family of five-year-old Diamond Brownridge who died when her dentist over-sedated her during a routine dental procedure. As a result, then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed a new law that helped protect patients during dental procedures. SB 214 requires dentists to obtain a specific permit from the state before performing deep sedation procedures. It became effective Jan. 1, 2008.

Every member of our firm upholds the highest principle of the legal profession in placing the individual client first. The firm often is said to set the standard in professional excellence. Clifford Law Offices has successfully handled numerous dental malpractice lawsuits in Illinois and other claims involving every medical specialty. Clifford Law Offices' commitment is unwavering in responding to consumer rights and awareness.