A Clearer Picture

If you have broken, chipped, or damaged your teeth in an accident, you may be planning on

filing a personal injury case. In a personal injury case, a dentist evaluates the injuries and

provides the treatment. The information the dentist collects is crucial for the patient’s health and

the outcome of the case.

The extent of the patient’s injuries and damages is a critical deciding factor in valuing a personal

injury claim. A dentist on lien ensures that the patient receives the appropriate treatment even if

he/she cannot afford payment upfront or at all. In the commitment to work on a lien, the

physician will get paid after the case is settled in court no matter the verdict. The lien is signed

by all three parties – the attorney, the doctor, and the patient.

Here is what a dentist can do to facilitate a personal injury case:

• In a personal injury case where the victim has severe damage to the teeth and requires immediate dental assistance, the dentist assists from initial evaluation and treatment to preparing the final report.
• In the initial evaluation, the dentist observes the scope of the patient's injuries. After the evaluation, the dentist will create a treatment plan to address the injuries.
• The treatment plan will estimate the approximate amount of time it will take to treat the patient and what procedures are necessary.
• Finally, the dentist creates detailed documentation of the treatment, including the initial evaluation, observations, treatment, and detailed descriptions of each visit.

A thorough deposition is then prepared for the attorney to submit in court. With the right

physician, the documentation is very detailed and clear, making it easy for the attorney to

present in the court to assist their client’s case.

Unlike a usual trip to the dentist, the physician is not paid upfront in a personal injury case. After

the personal injury or workers' compensation case is settled in court, the attorney and the

dentist are paid from the compensation received. This process can make it difficult to find a

dentist willing to take a lien, but we have a solution!

We partner with attorneys to start your treatment even before your lawsuit is concluded.

Why should you come to a dentist that treats patients with lien cases? Many of our patients

have a lawsuit in progress but are still waiting for their settlement or judgment to come through

years later. The slow pace of the legal system shouldn't keep you from getting the

treatment you need. That's why we have worked directly with attorneys for decades to

ensure our patients get the treatment they need when they need it.

Untreated dental problems only get worse if they're not addressed quickly. If you have a

case in progress but have immediate dental needs, call us today at (909) 823-5959.