Minor (Temporary pain/discomfort, resolved < 1 year)
Moderate (Ongoing issues, loss of single tooth, psychological impact)
Severe (Permanent nerve damage, loss of multiple teeth, chronic pain)
Extreme (Severe disfigurement, bone loss, life-altering)
Estimated Compensation Range:
$0 – $0
*This figure includes General Damages (Pain & Suffering) and Special Damages (Financial Losses). This is an estimation for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Actual settlements depend on jurisdiction and specific evidence.
Understanding Dental Negligence Settlements
Dental negligence occurs when a dental professional fails to provide the standard of care expected, resulting in injury or financial loss to the patient. Determining the value of a claim is a complex process that involves assessing both the physical impact on your life and the financial burden caused by the error.
This Dental Negligence Claim Calculator estimates potential settlement values by combining two main categories of damages:
1. General Damages (Pain, Suffering, and Loss of Amenity)
General damages compensate you for the physical pain, emotional distress, and the impact the injury has had on your daily life. The value depends heavily on the severity and duration of the injury.
Minor: Temporary sensitivity, short-term pain following a poor procedure, or simple infections that heal quickly.
Moderate: Loss of a single tooth, gum damage requiring surgery, or psychological anxiety regarding dental visits.
Severe: Chronic pain, permanent nerve damage (numbness or drooling), loss of multiple teeth, or damage requiring extensive bone grafting.
2. Special Damages (Financial Losses)
Special damages are easier to calculate mathematically as they represent actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to the negligence. These are added on top of the General Damages.
Key Financial Factors:
Corrective Treatment: The cost to fix the mistake (e.g., implants to replace wrongfully extracted teeth).
Lost Earnings: Income lost if you had to take time off work for recovery or appointments.
Incidental Expenses: Travel costs to specialists, prescription painkillers, or psychological therapy.
Common Types of Dental Negligence
Nerve Damage: Often occurs during wisdom tooth extraction or implant placement. It can lead to permanent numbness in the lip, chin, or tongue (paresthesia) or chronic pain.
Wrongful Extraction: The removal of a healthy tooth instead of the damaged one, or extracting a tooth that could have been saved with a root canal.
Periodontal Negligence: Failure to diagnose or treat gum disease, leading to avoidable tooth loss and bone decay.
Cosmetic Failures: Poorly fitted veneers or crowns that cause bite issues, infections, or aesthetic dissatisfaction requiring replacement.
Why Legal Advice is Crucial
While this calculator provides a baseline estimate based on common settlement data, insurance companies will often attempt to minimize payouts. A specialized dental malpractice attorney can help quantify future risks (such as the need for future implant replacements) to ensure the settlement covers lifetime costs, not just immediate repairs.
function calculateDentalClaim() {
// Get Inputs
var injuryType = document.getElementById('injuryType').value;
var severity = document.getElementById('severityLevel').value;
var remedialCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('remedialCost').value);
var lostEarnings = parseFloat(document.getElementById('lostEarnings').value);
var otherExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById('otherExpenses').value);
// Handle NaN for empty financial inputs
if (isNaN(remedialCost)) remedialCost = 0;
if (isNaN(lostEarnings)) lostEarnings = 0;
if (isNaN(otherExpenses)) otherExpenses = 0;
// Base Ranges for General Damages (Pain & Suffering)
// These are hypothetical ranges based on aggregated legal data logic
var baseLow = 0;
var baseHigh = 0;
// Logic Matrix based on Injury Type and Severity
// Values represented in USD
switch (injuryType) {
case "nerve":
if (severity === "minor") { baseLow = 2000; baseHigh = 5000; }
else if (severity === "moderate") { baseLow = 5000; baseHigh = 15000; }
else if (severity === "severe") { baseLow = 15000; baseHigh = 40000; }
else { baseLow = 40000; baseHigh = 80000; } // extreme
break;
case "extraction":
if (severity === "minor") { baseLow = 1500; baseHigh = 4000; } // uncomplicated wrong extraction
else if (severity === "moderate") { baseLow = 4000; baseHigh = 10000; } // difficult recovery
else if (severity === "severe") { baseLow = 10000; baseHigh = 25000; } // multiple teeth
else { baseLow = 25000; baseHigh = 50000; } // significant bone loss
break;
case "periodontal":
if (severity === "minor") { baseLow = 3000; baseHigh = 6000; }
else if (severity === "moderate") { baseLow = 6000; baseHigh = 15000; }
else if (severity === "severe") { baseLow = 15000; baseHigh = 35000; } // loss of teeth
else { baseLow = 35000; baseHigh = 60000; }
break;
case "cosmetic":
if (severity === "minor") { baseLow = 1000; baseHigh = 3000; }
else if (severity === "moderate") { baseLow = 3000; baseHigh = 8000; }
else if (severity === "severe") { baseLow = 8000; baseHigh = 20000; }
else { baseLow = 20000; baseHigh = 40000; }
break;
case "rootcanal":
if (severity === "minor") { baseLow = 1500; baseHigh = 4000; }
else if (severity === "moderate") { baseLow = 4000; baseHigh = 9000; }
else if (severity === "severe") { baseLow = 9000; baseHigh = 18000; }
else { baseLow = 18000; baseHigh = 30000; }
break;
case "jaw":
if (severity === "minor") { baseLow = 2500; baseHigh = 5500; }
else if (severity === "moderate") { baseLow = 5500; baseHigh = 12000; }
else if (severity === "severe") { baseLow = 12000; baseHigh = 30000; }
else { baseLow = 30000; baseHigh = 75000; }
break;
default:
baseLow = 1000; baseHigh = 5000;
}
// Calculate Total Special Damages
var specialDamages = remedialCost + lostEarnings + otherExpenses;
// Calculate Totals
var totalLow = baseLow + specialDamages;
var totalHigh = baseHigh + specialDamages;
// Formatting currency
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
minimumFractionDigits: 0,
maximumFractionDigits: 0,
});
// Display Result
var resultElement = document.getElementById('finalResult');
resultElement.innerHTML = formatter.format(totalLow) + " – " + formatter.format(totalHigh);
// Show result area
document.getElementById('result-area').style.display = 'block';
}