A guide to workers’ comp dental claims for Atlanta workers
If you’ve suffered a dental injury on the job in Georgia—whether from a fall, an accident with machinery, or a work-related car crash—you may be wondering if workers’ compensation covers your treatment.
The good news is that dental injuries are covered under Georgia’s workers’ comp system, but getting the benefits you’re owed isn’t always simple.
In this article, we’ll explain when dental injuries are covered by workers’ comp, what benefits may be available, how to file a claim in Georgia, and what to do if your employer or insurer denies payment for necessary care.
Struggling to get compensation for a work-related dental injury in Georgia?
Schedule a free consultation with the experienced Atlanta work injury attorneys at Gerber & Elkins today.
How common are dental injuries at work?
Dental injuries at work are relatively uncommon compared to other types of workplace injuries, but they still happen more often than many people realize.
According to the National Safety Council, from 2021 through 2022, U.S. workers missed about 5,110 workdays due to mouth injuries and 2,910 days due to teeth injuries.
While those numbers represent only 0.2% and 0.1% of all missed workdays from job-related injuries, they still translate to thousands of cases each year.
Workplace dental injuries are more common in industries like construction, manufacturing, and warehousing where workers face a higher risk of being struck by falling objects or heavy equipment (like forklifts), but practically any worker could slip and fall at work and end up with some sort of mouth trauma.
Even a single broken or knocked-out tooth can lead to costly treatment and missed work, which is why it’s essential for Georgia workers to understand their rights to workers’ compensation benefits after dental injuries.
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Does workers’ comp cover teeth?
Yes. If your dental injury happened while you were doing your job, it should be covered under Georgia’s workers’ compensation system.
Workers’ comp covers injuries that arise “out of and in the course of employment,” so as long as your dental injury occurred at work or while you were performing a job-related duty, it should qualify for benefits.
However, if the injury was caused by something unrelated to your job—like a pre-existing condition, a fight with a co-worker, horseplay, or a Halloween prank at work—it may not be covered.
Please note that in some instances, pre-existing conditions may be covered under workers’ comp if your job made the condition worse.
For example, if you had a cracked tooth for years and it broke after being struck in the mouth by equipment at work, your claim could be covered because your job aggravated the existing injury.
However, if you had untreated tooth decay that suddenly causes pain or an infection while on the job, that would not be covered since it wasn’t caused or worsened by a work-related incident.
Can I claim compensation for dental treatment under Georgia workers’ comp?
Yes, as long as your dental injury is work-related and you’re an employee (not an independent contractor) of a Georgia company with 3 or more employees (including part-time staff), you’re likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
Coverage is provided by your employer and begins on your first day of employment. It includes both medical treatment and indemnity payments (lost-wage benefits) if you can’t work because of your injury.
Medical benefits may include coverage for:
- Emergency dental care after an accident
- Tooth repairs, fillings, or crowns
- Replacement of knocked-out teeth or dental implants
- Jaw surgery or oral reconstruction related to the injury
- Pain management and follow-up dental visits
If your dental injury forces you to miss more than 7 days of work, you may also qualify for temporary total disability (TTD) or temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits to make up for lost income, as long as an employer-approved doctor writes you off of work.
How do I file a claim for dental care through workers’ comp in Georgia?
Filing a claim for dental care through workers’ compensation in Georgia follows the same process as any other work injury claim. Here’s what you need to do:
- Report your injury right away. Under Georgia law, you must notify your employer within 30 days of your dental injury to be covered under workers’ comp. Failing to report it in time can lead to your claim being denied.
- Get medical or dental treatment from an approved provider. Your employer is required to have a panel of physicians form (Form WC-P1) posted at work. This list includes approved doctors and dentists authorized by the workers’ comp insurance company. You must choose a provider from this list for your care to be covered.
- Document your injury and treatment. Keep copies of your medical reports, dentist’s notes, and any bills or communication about your care. This documentation helps support your claim and prove that your injury was work-related.
- File a formal claim. To start an official claim, file Form WC-14 (“Notice of Claim”) with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC). You’ll also need to send a copy to your employer and their insurance company. You generally have 1 year from the date of your injury to file this form.
If your claim is denied or your employer argues that your dental injury isn’t work-related, contact a local Georgia workers’ compensation attorney to learn about your rights and legal options for recovery.
Need help getting workers’ comp after a dental injury in Georgia?
If you’ve suffered a serious dental injury at work and your employer refuses to notify their insurer or they deny your claim, reach out to Gerber & Elkins.
Our Atlanta work injury lawyers live and work right here in Georgia, so we’re familiar with the local doctors, dentists, oral surgeons, and insurance companies that handle these claims—and we know how to get your claim moving in the right direction when it grinds to a halt.
Our team can step in quickly to make sure you get the treatment you need, deal with the insurer on your behalf, and push for the full benefits you deserve.
If your employer or the insurance company is giving you the runaround after a work-related dental injury, contact Gerber & Elkins Workers’ Compensation Attorneys today for a free consultation, and let us help you get your claim approved and your recovery back on track.
References
Work Injuries and Illnesses by Part of Body. (n.d.). Injury Facts. https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/industry-incidence-rates/work-injuries-and-illnesses-by-part-of-body/
