Can a dentist be sued for malpractice after patient gets meningitis?

My uncle had been having a toothache and jaw pain so he went to the dentist, was seen by the dentist and given a followup appt. He went back 1 wk later and was givin antibiotics for infection 3 days later was rushed to the ER. It took about an hr for the ambulance to get him to the hosp by then he was not responding. He was diagnosed with meningitis. He passed away 2 days later. We later find out that there have been 2 other patients of the same dentist that has passed away with the same circumstances. Could this possibly be malpractice for not giving antibiotics at the first appt. My uncle ask for them because he knew it was infected.