Cosmetic Dentistry Negligence Solicitors

If you’ve suffered pain, complications or lasting damage as a result of poor cosmetic dental treatment, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

No win, no fee. There will be no financial risk to you – even if your claim is not successful.

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Our cosmetic dentistry negligence specialists are here to help

If you’ve had cosmetic dental treatment that hasn’t gone as planned, the impact can extend far beyond your appearance. When cosmetic dentistry falls below acceptable standards, it can lead to pain and discomfort, a loss of confidence, and the need for further corrective treatment.

Our experienced cosmetic dentistry negligence specialists are here to support you. We understand how distressing these experiences can be, and we are here to help you get the answers and outcome you deserve.

What is cosmetic dentistry negligence?

Cosmetic dentistry negligence occurs when a dental professional provides treatment that does not meet the expected standard of care, resulting in avoidable harm or an unsatisfactory outcome.

Cosmetic dental procedures often require a high level of precision, planning and skill. If treatment is carried out incorrectly or without proper care, it can lead to complications such as pain, damage to teeth or gums, or the need for corrective procedures.

Examples of cosmetic dentistry negligence

Examples of cosmetic dentistry negligence can include:

Veneers, crowns or bridges fitted incorrectly
Dental implants that are poorly placed or fail
Teeth whitening treatments that damage enamel or cause sensitivity
Orthodontic treatment (e.g. braces or aligners) that leads to complications
Inadequate assessment, planning, or aftercare

To bring a successful cosmetic dentistry claim, three elements must be proven:

Breach of Duty – your dentist made an avoidable mistake
Causation – the harm would not have occurred without that mistake
Damages – you suffered physical harm or financial loss

Negligence can also arise where you were not properly informed of the risks before treatment, meaning you could not give fully informed consent.

Can I make a claim for cosmetic dentistry negligence?

You may be able to make a cosmetic dentistry claim if:

Your dentist owed you a duty of care
That duty was breached through substandard treatment
You suffered harm as a direct result

When you receive treatment, your dentist is legally required to provide a safe and appropriate standard of care. However, not every unsatisfactory cosmetic result will amount to negligence. To make a claim, it must be shown that your dentist fell below the standard expected of a reasonably competent professional. A breach may occur if your dentist:

Ignored underlying dental problems before treatment
Caused avoidable damage during a procedure
Failed to properly explain risks

You must also prove that your injury was caused by this failure. In other words, “but for” the dentist’s mistake, you would not have experienced the harm. If you believe you have been affected, it is important to act promptly. You will usually have three years from the date of treatment, or from when you became aware of the issue, to bring a claim.

Why choose our cosmetic dentistry negligence solicitors?

Choosing the right legal team can make a significant difference to your experience and the outcome of your claim.

A supportive approach - We understand the impact cosmetic dental issues can have on your confidence and wellbeing, and we treat every case with care and sensitivity.
Clear and practical advice - We explain the claims process in plain English, keeping you informed so you always know what to expect.
Access to independent experts - We work with qualified dental professionals who can assess your treatment and provide expert evidence where needed.
Focused on achieving the best outcome - Our aim is to secure the compensation you need to move forward, including funding for corrective treatment where appropriate.
Our team of cosmetic dentistry claim solicitors have been these types of claims for decades, and we understand the emotional and financial impact they can have on people and their families.

Our dental negligence services

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0808 164 0808

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When can I claim cosmetic dentistry compensation? toggle accordion

You may be able to bring a claim if cosmetic dental treatment has been carried out to an inadequate standard and has caused you harm. This can include situations where procedures such as veneers, composite bonding or dental implants have failed, been poorly fitted, or led to further complications. In more serious cases, errors during treatment may result in lasting issues, such as nerve damage or ongoing pain. To pursue a claim, it is necessary to show that the treatment you received fell below an acceptable standard and caused avoidable harm. Compensation is typically divided into two parts:

General damages – for the pain, discomfort and emotional impact you have experienced
Special damages – to cover financial losses, including the cost of corrective treatment and any related expenses

Supporting evidence is an important part of any claim. This will usually include your dental records, photographs showing the outcome of the treatment, and an independent expert report assessing the care you received. As with all medical negligence cases, early legal advice can help establish whether you have grounds to bring a claim and what steps to take next.

What’s the time limit for bringing a cosmetic dentistry claim? toggle accordion

In most cases, you have three years to bring a cosmetic dentistry claim under the Limitation Act 1980. This time limit will often begin from the date of your treatment. However, where concerns are not immediately apparent, it may instead start from the point at which you first became aware that something may have gone wrong, this is known as the “date of knowledge.” This could arise where symptoms develop after the expected healing period, a second dentist identifies an issue, or dental work fails unexpectedly. Establishing this date is an important part of protecting your right to claim. Pinpointing this exact date is crucial to protect your right to compensation. While this strict three-year window applies to most adults, the legal system provides important exceptions for those who cannot advocate for themselves.

What is the average payout for a successful cosmetic dentistry compensation claim? toggle accordion

Compensation in cosmetic dentistry claims is intended to place you, as far as possible, in the position you would have been in had the treatment not gone wrong. The amount awarded will depend on the nature and severity of the issues you have experienced. Compensation is generally split into two distinct legal categories to ensure nothing is missed:

General damages – covering the pain, discomfort and emotional impact, including any effect on your confidence
Special damages – reimbursing financial losses, such as the cost of corrective treatment, loss of earnings and related expenses

The level of compensation can vary significantly. Less serious cases involving minor corrective work may attract more modest awards, while more complex cases, such as those involving significant damage, long-term complications or nerve injury, can result in substantially higher settlements. Each claim is assessed on its own facts, and the value will reflect both the physical and financial impact of the treatment. It is advisable to speak with one of our specialist cosmetic dentistry negligence solicitors, who can advise you based on your individual circumstances.

Cosmetic Dentistry Negligence legal services

Supporting people and families affected by negligent cosmetic dentistry treatment

Doing everything we can to achieve the best possible outcome
Understanding your situation and getting the details of what’s happened
Working with you to understand your situation

No win, no fee medical negligence legal advice

We carry out many of our claims on a no win, no fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs for you and, provided that you have not misled or acted against the advice that we have given you, no financial risk to you – even if your claim is not successful.

In most instances we will purchase ‘After the Event’ (ATE) insurance on your behalf to cover any legal costs should you not win the case. However, if you have a ‘Before the Event’ (BTE) insurance policy included in your home, car or credit card insurance then we may look to use that insurance to cover the legal costs and an ATE policy should not then be required.

To learn more about funding your medical negligence claim click here >

Who pays my legal costs?

If we are successful in your claim for compensation, then the majority of your legal costs will be met by those responsible for your medical injury or illness, and this liability is often covered by an insurance company. The Agreement states that a success fee (capped at a percentage of your damages), which we will agree with you in the beginning, will be deducted at the conclusion to contribute to the work that we have done for you. You will also have to pay part of the ATE Insurance if you win. You do not have to pay for the ATE if you do not win your case.

Kind words from our medical negligence clients

Neil Clayton

Head of Medical Negligence

Medical Negligence

James Anderson

Head of Medical Negligence West Midlands

Medical Negligence

Meet the rest of the team

Get in touch with our no win, no fee cosmetic dentistry negligence solicitors today

If you need to talk to someone straight away you can call us for free on 0808 164 0808

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Other dental negligence claims we can help with

Dental negligence → Orthodontic negligence → Gum disease claims →

Disclaimer

In general you have three years from the date of negligence or reasonable knowledge of mistreatment by a medical professional causing you harm to bring a medical negligence compensation claim. There are some exceptions to this rule; for instance where the matter involves a child in which case the child has three years from the date of their 18th birthday to bring a claim, therefore expiring on the individual’s 21st birthday.

It is important to speak to our medical negligence solicitors as early as possible to avoid any issues with limitation dates.