Is it true that a woman will get more compensation for a dentist taking out the wrong tooth than a man would get?
Eoin P. Campbell, LL.B., Solicitor
Editor in Chief
Inasmuch as the law recognises the importance that a woman places on her appearance, there are more factors involved in calculating settlements of compensation for a dentist taking out the wrong tooth than just gender differences.
The visibility of the gap left behind when the wrong tooth has been extracted is possibly the most important factor of all. If a dentist extracted a tooth at the front of your mouth, it is likely that you would receive more compensation for a dentist taking out the wrong tooth than you would if a tooth had been removed in error from the back of your mouth.
The visibility factor is important because it can affect your appearance and your confidence – vital attributes if you work in a position where you have regular contact with the public. A gap at the front of your mouth could also have an effect on your ability to perform well in job interviews, be accepted by your peers and meet potential partners.
Therefore, if a young male who worked face-to-face with the public in a sales position where to have a front tooth taken out by mistake, he would be likely to receive more compensation for a dentist taking out the wrong tooth than an elderly woman who is a homemaker. However, other factors also need to be taken into consideration when compiling a claim for compensation for having the wrong tooth taken out by a dentist.
The unnecessary pain of having a back tooth taken out in error is usually greater than when a front tooth is removed. In contrast, the revision treatment required to bridge a gap at the front of a mouth may be more complex – and consequently more expensive – than when a gap towards the back of the mouth is being disguised. There is also the question of the tooth which should have been taken out originally to consider in a claim for compensation for having the wrong tooth taken out by a dentist and, as you can see, no two claims for compensation for a dentist taking out the wrong tooth are likely to be identical – even when the location of the tooth which has been extracted in error is the same.
For an accurate assessment of how much compensation for a dentist taking out the wrong tooth you would be entitled to receive, it is recommended that you discuss your personal situation with an experienced medical negligence solicitor at the first possible opportunity.