When a physician, dentist, nurse, hospital or other health professional fails to provide to you that level of care required of similar health care providers you may have the basis for a medical malpractice claim. Such cases are often difficult and costly to present, and any potential plaintiff has to weigh carefully the financial and emotional costs that must be invested to pursue such a claim. At the law office of Meehan Meehan & Gavin,we take the task of evaluating the care of another professional very seriously. We counsel our clients that doctors are not guarantors of perfect treatment. Often the best of medical care does not produce the desired results. It is not the result of medical care that should cause you to consult with an attorney but rather, carefully considered concerns about the quality of that care.

Although not generally favored by most lawyers and malpractice insurance claims adjusters, dental malpractice claims make up a significant portion of our practice.   We understand better than most the pain and disability that can result form dental mistakes. Injuries creating numbness and disabling pain are not uncommon. Defective crown and bridgework, failed root canals, and implant failures are among the many cases that we have successfully resolved for our clients. Our lawyers have developed a special emphasis in handling dental malpractice claims.   In 2003 alone we settled in excess of 1.8 million dollars in dental claims.   Our consulting experts have years of experience in their respective fields and have aided us in successfully resolving dozens of these claims. Our paralegal staff is trained to aid you in obtaining all of your relevant records and assembling your file for an expeditious review by our experts.

The most common complaints we see involve either nerve damage from dental procedures, particularly wisdom tooth extractions, and failed implants or crown and bridgework. Most of the time the work is done by those without sufficient training and experience and without properly advising the patient of all of the risks and alternatives to the procedure recommended.

Among the cases that we have successfully resolved are the following:

$250,000.00 settlement for severed lingual and inferior alveolar nerves during wisdom tooth extraction.

39-year-old credit analyst sought the removal of her wisdom teeth.   She had reported no prior problems other than discomfort.   An oral surgeon recommended extraction of her impacted molars despite the close proximity between the roots of one molar and the inferior alveolar nerve. During the course of the procedure both the inferior alveolar nerve (which enervates the cheek and lip) and the lingual nerve (which enervates the tongue) were damaged, leaving the client with numbness as well as constant shooting pains in the affected areas of her face.   The client had not been properly advised of the risks, benfits or alternatives to the surgery. The case settled through mediation just prior to trial.

$250,000.00 settlement for failed implant supported bridge reconstruction.

41 year old secretary consulted with a dentist who held himself out to the public as an expert in implantology and dental reconstruction for replacement of bridgework in her upper jaw and placement of implant supported bridges in her lower jaw..   The patient lost 13 teeth as a result of resulting decay from improperly constructed bridges that allowed bacteria to flourish in her remaining teeth that held her bridgework in place. Costs for reconstruction were estimated as high as $73,000.00.

$225,000.00 settlement for defective bridgework

The plaintiff was a 68-year-old former singer who did free lance voice over work for radio and TV.   He consulted with a general dentist who provided routine care for many years to him but never provided a comprehensive treatment plan.   The dentist placed several bridges in his upper and lower jaw all of which failed as a result of rampant tooth decay that the dentist had failed to appreciate or treat. As a result the plaintiff lost 17 teeth that were replaced with implants and fixed bridges.

$135,000.00 settlement for failed orthodontia

15-year-old girl under treatment with an orthodontist for braces for 5 years.   During that time the dentist failed to take x-rays and failed to discover that the child's eyeteeth had not descended and had lost their roots through resorption leading to their loss and the need for possible future implants.

$125,000.00 settlement for failed subperiostal implants

59 year old account executive consulted with a dentist who held himself out to the public as an expert in implantology and dental reconstruction for placement of subperiostal implants in her lower jaw which was severely atrophied.   The implants failed and were removed and replaced with removable dentures.

$125,000.00 settlement for failed crowns and root canals

55 year old management consultant and works as a video writer/producer.   His profession involved frequent client and internal presentations and often demonstrations and performances as a voice-over narrator.   He consulted with the defendant for root canals and crown and bridge placements.   As a result of multiple failures the plaintiff lost 12 teeth and required extensive reconstruction.

$100,000.00 settlement for failed implant supported maxillary bridge

55 year old waitress sought implant supported bridge in her upper jaw.   The bridgework was unsightly and the implants failed resulting in their loss and replacement with dentures.

$99,999.00 settlement for over-preparation of abutting teeth for a maxillary bridge

44 year old business woman treated by a cosmetic dentist for replacement of a functional bridge. The doctor over prepared the abutting teeth leading to extensive decay and the need for further reconstruction. Case settled through mediation immediately prior to trial.

$97,500.00 settlement for nerve injury during attempted removal of an upper bridge

47 year old dental assistant consulted with a general dentist for replacement of a functional bridge that was no longer esthetically pleasing to her.   During the attempt to remove the bridge the dentist slipped with a diamond tipped drill and punctured the patient's cheek above the gumline resulting in nerve damage that created both a slight lip droop and numbness.

$75,000.00 settlement for failed bridgework

78 year old retiree consulted with a dentist who held himself out to the public as an expert in dental reconstruction for placement of several small bridges in his upper and lower jaw. The patient showed up at our consultant's dental office with one of his bridges in his hand that had repeatedly fallen out of his mouth including a failed post that had been inserted as an anchor in one of his abutting teeth.