Getting to the root of it all!

[Tinaduncan74]

What is the name of your state? Well I live in Georgia, but had the original work done in Arkansas, and the corrective work is being done in Florida.

Ok to start this out, previous to feb 2005 I had a routine cleaning and dental exam. During this visit I was informed that I had 12 cavities, yes a lot I know. Anyway, I had my house up for sale and told this to my dentist, he informed me that he could do all the fillings and 1 extraction in two visits. This I thought was great I could get it all done before I moved. I did not think that a dentist would say he could do something that he could not do. Well He did do it. It took about 2 hours each day which was a couple of days apart. He did all the fillings on one side of my mouth upper and lower and then the next visit did the other side doing the extraction last. With in a week or so my mouth became very sore I thought it was a dry socket from the extraction. I went back to the dentist he took an x-ray and said that there was a slight infection which he provided an antibiotic for. I started the antibiotic with no relief. With in the week an absess like I had never seen before came up in the extraction site (19) it was as big as the tooth that was removed. I returned to the dentist and he told me that there was really nothing he could do other than for me to continue taking antibiotic and he also told me that I would need to rinse my mouth with hydrogen peroxide everyday for probably the rest of my life. at thi same visit he wrote another perscription for antibiotics with something I had never seen in the past, the antibiotics actually had a refill on it.

Well to move on with my story, the absess did not go away, finally I went to see my mother in Florida and she took me to see her dentist, this was in July. He said he had never seen such a thing. When he did an exam he discovered that when the previous dentist did the filling in the tooth behind the extraction he caused the tooth to crack allowing the infection to continue. I ended up having to have a root canal and crown on the tooth as well as the tooth behind it. Thinking this was the end of my troubles I just let it pass. Although I did call the dentist and inform him of what had happened. He did not apologize for any of the pain or incovience that he had caused.

we are now at a year past my original dental work and a filling fell out so I again went to visit my mothers dentist in Florida he informed me that 6 more of the teeth whose fillings were from the previous dentist now need root canals. He now calls that dentist Dr. Death he says everything he touched is dead. He informed me yesterday that in order to get the infection out of my mouth that it will take about $15,000. I was looking at what it takes to file for malpratice and I believe I meet all three.

1. Sub-standard service
2. pain and suffering (7 root canals)
3. being out money ($15,000)

My question is where do I need to find a lawyer and how do I go about solving my problem.

My greatest fear is that if he is doing this to me how many other people has he done it to. Luckily I have resources to get my teeth fixed. Many would just have them pulled, which is sad.
I would appreciate any comments and recommendations.
Thank You

 

[shell007]

Honestly...I don't know, but after reading your post, even I need some pain meds. Ouch!!

Hope you get better!

 

[barry1817]

dental malpractice

What is the name of your state? Well I live in Georgia, but had the original work done in Arkansas, and the corrective work is being done in Florida.

Ok to start this out, previous to feb 2005 I had a routine cleaning and dental exam. During this visit I was informed that I had 12 cavities, yes a lot I know. Anyway, I had my house up for sale and told this to my dentist, he informed me that he could do all the fillings and 1 extraction in two visits. This I thought was great I could get it all done before I moved. I did not think that a dentist would say he could do something that he could not do. Well He did do it. It took about 2 hours each day which was a couple of days apart. He did all the fillings on one side of my mouth upper and lower and then the next visit did the other side doing the extraction last. With in a week or so my mouth became very sore I thought it was a dry socket from the extraction. I went back to the dentist he took an x-ray and said that there was a slight infection which he provided an antibiotic for. I started the antibiotic with no relief. With in the week an absess like I had never seen before came up in the extraction site (19) it was as big as the tooth that was removed. I returned to the dentist and he told me that there was really nothing he could do other than for me to continue taking antibiotic and he also told me that I would need to rinse my mouth with hydrogen peroxide everyday for probably the rest of my life. at thi same visit he wrote another perscription for antibiotics with something I had never seen in the past, the antibiotics actually had a refill on it.

Well to move on with my story, the absess did not go away, finally I went to see my mother in Florida and she took me to see her dentist, this was in July. He said he had never seen such a thing. When he did an exam he discovered that when the previous dentist did the filling in the tooth behind the extraction he caused the tooth to crack allowing the infection to continue. I ended up having to have a root canal and crown on the tooth as well as the tooth behind it. Thinking this was the end of my troubles I just let it pass. Although I did call the dentist and inform him of what had happened. He did not apologize for any of the pain or incovience that he had caused.

we are now at a year past my original dental work and a filling fell out so I again went to visit my mothers dentist in Florida he informed me that 6 more of the teeth whose fillings were from the previous dentist now need root canals. He now calls that dentist Dr. Death he says everything he touched is dead. He informed me yesterday that in order to get the infection out of my mouth that it will take about $15,000. I was looking at what it takes to file for malpratice and I believe I meet all three.

1. Sub-standard service
2. pain and suffering (7 root canals)
3. being out money ($15,000)

My question is where do I need to find a lawyer and how do I go about solving my problem.

My greatest fear is that if he is doing this to me how many other people has he done it to. Luckily I have resources to get my teeth fixed. Many would just have them pulled, which is sad.
I would appreciate any comments and recommendations.
Thank You

You can ask friends if they know an attorney, or contact the local bar association. Mention that you need a lawyer that specializes in Medical/dental malpractice.

You would then need to make sure that you get the x-rays and records from the dentist that caused the problems, and have them reviewed. It is important to have the x-rays that were taken prior to the initial treatment, as they would enable a consultant to evaluate the problems that existed, the treatment that was rendered and be able to make an informed opinion about the level of treatment that was received.

I do know that from where I am sitting I am very sympathetic to what you have gone through, but as the devil's advocate, the dentist will be looking to minimize the problems that he caused, and in some instances there are cases where good dentists just have bad results. Again I don't think that this is the case from what you said, but that is why the pre-treatment x-rays from that dentist are important, as well as the x-rays taken from the new dentist, as well as the treatment notes.

If I can be of any further assistance feel free to contact me directly. Sometimes questions that are pertinent to a legal action should not be directly answered on a public forum.

Barry1817@aol.com

 

[Tinaduncan74]

Barry,
Thank you for your quick reply. I am in the process of sending away for the records. My current dentist advised me of the proper way to do this. He has been very helpful in all of this. It was actually his recommendation that I proceed with this action. He has also stated that he would go where ever he is need to testify on my behalf. Which I feel really helps my case. Today when I was at the dentist office they pulled out the x-rays from July and two of the teeth that are to have root canals within the week had decay in over a third of the tooth then. It was interesting to look at, there was all this dark shadowing and a nice pretty white spot (filling)in the middle, about a fifth of the size of the decay. I too am curious what the pre-op X-rays look like. The funny thing is looking back that a root canal was never even mentioned. Anyway thank you for your reply.
Tina

 

[janedoe23]

You do realize that even if you have fillings it don't prevent you from further decay? From the time that you completed treatment to the time you seen another dentist it is possible that your teeth could have cracked and decayed more especially if you had fillings that took up more space then the actual tooth. In this case when fillings break, crack or fall out it usually is followed by a root canal and a crown. I'd like to know how the 2nd dentist cured the absess that the 1st dentist wasn't capable of doing?

 

[loveumms]

I would also get a third opinion from a different dentist. I am sure that you were in a great deal of pain and that your teeth need the work the second dentist is advising however, just make sure that you need $15,000 worth of work.

I went to a dentist that I have been going to for years and was told that I had four new cavities that had popped up since my previous visit six months prior (I try and get my teeth cleaned every six months and have never missed a visit). I was 22 at the time and was shocked that I had four cavities all of the sudden when I had never, ever had problems with my teeth. So, he scheduled to have two of them filled at one visit and the other two at a visit a few weeks later. During the first set of fillings I was shocked that it didn't hurt at all - all of my friends/family told me that it hurt pretty bad to get cavities filled and he filled mine without any numbing or pain medicine. I was not able to keep the second appointment for the other two cavities and decided to get them done at a dentist in the city where I attend school (since it was really difficult to get out to where the first dentist was located). So I went to the new dentist with records in hand and he told me that he couldn't find any cavities in my mouth. I was shocked - cavities don't go away and I knew that the second dentist wouldn't tell me that they didn't exist when in fact they. On top of all of this, the reason the first dentist told me I had the cavities was b/c the sealants he put on my teeth at the visit six months prior (my teeth are very deep and I was told that deep teeth are very prone to cavities) were not put on correctly allowing sugar to get under them, setting me up for cavities.

Lesson of the story - sometimes people over estimate the work that needs to be done in order to line their pockets a little more. I suggest getting a third opinion not b/c I think the second dentist is trying to get money from you, I'm sure you need work and the first dentist messed your teeth up. However, just make sure you need that much work so that you are not subjecting yourself to even more pain and suffering. Plus, it just seems a little suspect to me that the second dentist would volunteer himself to go to bat for you having just met you while telling you that you’re going to need $15,000 worth of work.

 

[ellencee]

Barry's answer is the best. One other important consideration is the condition of the teeth at the time of the treatment and the condition of the teeth in general, both of which were very poor. Not all teeth hold fillings without cracking and resulting in the need for root canals or capping/crowns.

Medical malpractice requires that damages result when no damage would have resulted if it hadn't been for negligence/malpractice. I doubt this can proven in this case as the poster had numerous cavities and poor dental health at the beginning of treatment.

Consulting with an Arkansas lawyer should be the next step. The poster can learn whether or not there is any reason to continue to dwell upon the issue.

EC

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Remember when you request the records from your former dentist that you get all your records not just the ones prior to your treatment. Since you said this was regualr/routine visit, 12 cavities seems a lot for a 6 month period of time and the dentist defending will make much of your prior dental health and any trauma you may have suffered from other sources. Also your lawsuit if any would be in the state where the work was done so you would need to consult an attorney in Arkansas not FL or GA. Also understand while the current dentist may be willing to testify, you may need independent experts. Your new dentist seems a bit eager to testify.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

After responding to your question I looked at some of your previous posts because the sudden onset of 12 cavities in a short time seemed unusual. I found your thread from last year prior to your treatment https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?t=215466 where you developed Asthma after chemical exposure resulting in loss of 30% of your lung capacity and that you were advised to find different employment because working with preschoolers exposed your compromised immune system to many infectious diseases. The treatment of Asthma increases your risk to dental caries as explained in this article
http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/cns/2004-05-03/743.asp Were all the dentist you consulted or received treatment from advised of these facts? How long did you continue to work as a childcare worker?