Dental Radiology Errors in Santa Clarita
A Licensed Dentist & Attorney Reviews Your Imaging Personally
Dental radiology errors occur when a dentist fails to detect, correctly interpret, or act on findings in dental X-rays, panoramic films, or cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. When pathology goes undetected on imaging, a condition can worsen for months or years before you know anything is wrong. If your dentist missed something on your imaging, you may have grounds to pursue a dental malpractice claim in California.
I’m Dean Schweitzer. I hold both a dental license and a law license, and I bring over 35 years of legal experience to every case I take. That background changes how I evaluate dental radiology error claims. I personally review imaging and clinical records when assessing your situation. I don’t need a third party to interpret the clinical evidence before I can tell you honestly where your case stands.
If you believe your dentist missed or misread findings on your dental imaging, call me for a free consultation at . I can review what happened and explain your options in plain language.
Types of Dental Radiology Errors That Can Support a Malpractice Claim
Not every missed finding constitutes negligence, but dentists are legally required to identify pathology that a reasonably prudent dental professional would detect under similar circumstances. Several categories of imaging error recur in malpractice claims.
Missed oral lesions or tumors are among the most serious. Lesions visible on a panoramic radiograph or CBCT scan that go unrecognized can allow oral cancer or other pathology to advance to a stage that is harder to treat. A delayed cancer diagnosis caused by an imaging misread is one of the clearest examples of patient harm tied to dental negligence.
Other radiology errors that may support a claim include:
- Undetected bone loss: Failure to identify bone loss around teeth or implants on X-rays, allowing periodontal disease or implant failure to advance without intervention
- Overlooked impacted teeth: Missing an impacted tooth on a panoramic film, resulting in avoidable damage to adjacent teeth or nerves
- Failure to identify infection or abscess: A periapical film showing a developing abscess that goes unrecognized and untreated
- Failure to order appropriate imaging: When initial films are inconclusive and the dentist doesn’t recommend additional imaging or a referral to a dentist with relevant training, that omission can itself be a breach of the standard of care
What My Dental License Means for Your Case
In most imaging interpretation error claims, a general attorney must hire a dental expert just to understand what they’re looking at. I don’t face that gap. Because I hold both a law license and a dental license, I can read a panoramic radiograph or CBCT scan as a clinician and evaluate it as a legal advocate at the same time.
When you bring me a potential case, I personally review your dental records, imaging, and treatment notes. I can assess whether a finding should have been visible on the films, whether the dentist’s response met the standard of care, and how the failure connects to the harm you experienced. I explain my analysis directly to you, in plain language, so you understand what your case involves before making any decisions.
Talk to a Dental Malpractice Attorney in Santa Clarita Before Time Runs Out
California imposes strict filing deadlines on dental malpractice claims, and missing them can forfeit your right to pursue recovery. If you believe a radiology error delayed your diagnosis or caused you avoidable harm, contact The Law Office of Dean Schweitzer now for a free consultation. I can review your records personally and tell you where your case stands.
Call to schedule your free consultation. I work with patients throughout Santa Clarita and give each case my direct attention from the first conversation.
Stories From Our Clients
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I just wanted to tell you how grateful I’m for your fine kindness of replying with your phone call on August 17. I took your advice and will be seeing another dentist for a second opinion on Tuesday, August 24. I came to your website and in my readings, I see you’re an awesome Attorney, one of a kind. Once again thanks a trillion. Blessings!- Gloria A.
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“Even though the case wasn't big enough for him to take it on, he still went out of his way to make sure that I knew there were options that I could pursue on my own.”- Jess F.
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“Mr. Dean Schweitzer is a man of his word and does exactly what he says he will do.”- Kimberly T.
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“Dean’s knowledge and experience as a dentist in an addition to being a lawyer were incredibly beneficial to me because he was immediately able to understand my situation.”- Current client Jamie W.
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“I would recommend him highly to anyone who asked.”- Former client Laura P.
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“The legal guidance and personal attention that Dean provided us was overwhelming.”- Former client Tom S.
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“On top of being incredibly nice, he was awesome at communicating with me and always responded to my texts and emails.”- Former client Jerry P.
California Law & Dental Radiology Malpractice Claims
To prevail on a dental radiology malpractice claim in California, four elements must be established: a patient-provider relationship existed, the dentist failed to meet the accepted standard of care in reading or acting on the imaging, that failure caused or substantially contributed to the patient’s harm, and the patient suffered compensable losses such as additional treatment costs, pain and suffering, or permanent injury. The legal standard isn’t perfection. A dentist is required to exercise the level of care a reasonably prudent dental professional would under similar circumstances, and a missed finding that a competent clinician would have caught is the kind of failure that can establish liability.
Filing Deadlines Under CCP Section 340.5
Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 340.5, a dental malpractice claim must be filed within one year from the date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury, or within three years from the date of injury, whichever comes first. Both deadlines apply. Many summaries state only the one-year rule and leave out the three-year outer limit that governs cases where discovery is delayed.
California also requires that the defendant receive 90 days’ written notice of intent to sue before a lawsuit is filed, under CCP section 364. Separately, California’s Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) places a cap on non-economic damages in dental malpractice cases. That cap increases on a set schedule through 2033, so the figure that applies to your case depends on when the claim is filed. Economic damages, including additional treatment costs, medical bills, and lost wages, aren’t capped. Contact my office for the current figures that apply to your situation.
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Licensed Dentist & Attorney with Proven Experience with Dental Malpractice Litigation
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Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars Recovered For Our Clients
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Client-Centered Approach
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Real Life Experience & Knowledge
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Personalized Attention & Care