New York Dental Malpractice Lawyers

Smiley & Smiley, LLP represents victims of the following types of dental malpractice cases:

Permanent nerve and/or structural injuries resulting from:

• Dental malpractice injuries to the nerves of the tongue, jaw & lips.
• Wrongful death resulting from dental procedures.
• Anesthesia injuries and anesthesia deaths.
• Failure to detect or diagnose oral cancer.
• Negligent placement of dental implants.
• Negligent screening of dental implant candidates.
• Negligent management of nerve injury/trauma following surgery.
• Negligent removal of wisdom teeth (3rd molars)

Dental Malpractice Case Results

Andrew J. Smiley, Esq. Wins $750,000 Dental Malpractice Verdict!

We are proud to announce that Andrew J. Smiley, Esq. recently obtained a $750,000 verdict for a 53-year-old private duty nurse who underwent dental implant surgery in her lower jaw. As a result of the dentist's malpractice, our client sustained permanent numbness in her lower right lip, chin and jaw. This is the highest reported dental malpractice verdict in New York for this type of injury. The trial lasted three days and the jury deliberated for three hours. The defense offered absolutely no money to settle the case prior to the verdict, claiming that the dentist did nothing wrong.

Other Malpractice Results Obtained by Smiley Law

• $ 500,000 verdict on behalf of a 35-year-old computer consultant, who sustained a permanently numb lip, chin and tongue following wisdom tooth extractions.

• $375,000 for a 34-year-old stenography student who sustained a permanent scar and loss of sensation in her face and neck as a result of having her salivary gland negligently removed. Her doctor misread an MRI report and removed the gland when there was no need to do so.

• $225,000 for the Chief Executive Officer of an international shipping company who sustained permanent numbness to his lip and chin which was caused by the negligent placement of implants into the nerve canal of the CEO's jaw. This settlement was achieved shortly after jury selection and prior to opening statements.

Informative Links: Dental Malpractice

Periodontics Oral Surgery & Web Sites

• Ask an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
• WebDental: The Dental Database
• Univ. of Penn. School of Dental Medicine
• Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Internet Resources

Law-Related Info - General

• Legal Information Institute
  All kinds of legal information online

• Indiana University School of Law
  An index by subject of law related topics

Links

• Lingual Nerve Injury
• ACFE - American College of Forensic Examiners
• ADA - American Dental Association
• CDC-Oral Health - Centers for Disease Control - Oral Health Resources
• Dental Related Internet Resources
• Endodontic Tutorial
• Fluoridation Facts
• International and American Associations for Dental Research
• The International Congress of Oral Implantologists
• LifeNet - non-profit Organ Procurement Organization and the largest, full-service, non-profit allograft tissue banking system in the U.S..
• Medical Breakthroughs- News from the world's leading medical centers and research labs.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Physicians' Online - Medline
• TMJ Disorders -an explanation of TMJ disorders for the layman
• UCLA Periodontics Information Center - CE course listings, dental information and more!

Dental Glossary

Abscess
An infection caused by severe decay, trauma or gum disease. It may involve pain and swelling.

Amalgam
Typical silver colored filling made of a mix of silver, tin, mercury and some trace elements like copper. Its advantages: placement easier than other materials and relatively low cost. Its disadvantages: color and breaks down in 10 to 20 years.

Bonding
Covering of a tooth surface to correct stained or damaged teeth by painting a layer of plastic on the tooth.

Bridge
One or more artificial teeth attached, usually on both sides, by crowns to adjacent teeth. It is used to maintain space and function for missing teeth. May be made of gold or porcelain on gold.

Bruxism
Tooth grinding, often caused by stress. Most occurs, unconsciously, at night.

Composite
Tooth-colored resin filling materials. Main advantages: color, adhesives available to strengthen rather than weaken tooth. Disadvantages: shrinkage, stain and wear problems.

Crown
Also know as a "cap," is a cover for a decayed or damaged tooth made of porcelain and/or metal.

Endodontist
A dentist that strictly deals with the nerve of the tooth. They may perform simple to difficult root canal treatments as well as surgical root procedures. They may perform an apicoectomy (surgically removing the tip of the root) or a root amputation (removing a root on a multi-rooted tooth).

Extraction
The removal of teeth. The removal may be simple or surgical.

Fistula
A bump or boil on the gum tissue, which is a tract, in which an abscessed tooth can drain.

Gingivitis
Inflammation of the gum tissue caused by plaque and or tartar build-up. Precursor to periodontitis if not treated.

Impacted Tooth
Usually associated with a wisdom tooth, it is a tooth that is submerged under the gum tissue.

Implant
A titanium cage or screw placed in the bone to replace a lost tooth or teeth. A crown, bridge, or bar and denture can be fixed to the implant(s).

Inlay
A gold, porcelain, or composite custom-made filling cemented into the tooth. If it covers the tips of the teeth or otherwise supports the tips, it is called an onlay.

Night Guard
A plastic mouthpiece to prevent damage from grinding teeth at night.

Oral Surgeon
A dentist that performs many aspects of surgery in and about the head area. They can perform simple to extremely difficult (Completely-Bony Impacted Third Molars [Wisdom teeth]) extractions. They also perform biopsies and removal of tumors in the head and neck region. Most place implants in the jaw for future restorations and do complex jaw realignment surgeries.

Orthodontist
A dentist that straightens teeth. They analyze a mouth and surrounding bone structures and determine where the teeth should be. If there is enough room they will manipulate the teeth and bone through the use of bands, wires, elastics, headgears and other appliances to achieve a harmonious balance between facial muscles and teeth.

Pedodontist
A pediatric dentist. They focus their dentistry to treating the younger patients. They will usually treat children from as little as 1 or 2 to early adulthood.

Periodontitis
Advanced gum disease; inflammation of gum tissue, which causes bone loss resulting in tooth loss if untreated.

Periodontist
A dentist that deals with the supporting structures of the teeth. They diagnosis and treat gingivitis (inflammation of the gum tissue) as well as periodontitis (gum disease). They may perform simple cleanings to complicated bone surgeries. They perform bone grafting where indicated and do soft tissue grafts to treat gum recession. Most also place implants in the jaw for future restoration.

Porcelain Laminate Veneer
A thin porcelain shell bonded to the tooth to correct imperfections in shape and color.

Prophy
Simple cleaning of teeth with rubber wheel and dental toothpaste.

Prosthodontist
A dentist that deals with simple to complicated full-mouth restorations. They may be crowns, fixed bridges, dentures, implant cases or mixed implant and fixed bridge cases. They sometimes encompass the majority of the patient's remaining teeth. They also perform needed restorative procedures, such as obturators, after removal of cancerous portions of the mouth.

Root Canal Therapy
Cleaning out the inside nerve of the tooth to preserve the tooth.

Root Planning
The removal of hard deposits, with metal scalers, on the root surface and smoothing the root surface to allow for reattachment of the gums to the tooth and ultimately pocket reduction.

Sealant
Plastic coating applied to grooves of teeth to prevent decay.