You Don’t Need Another Reason To Fear The Dentist

Most people don’t look forward to going to the dentist, and don’t need another reason to be hesitant to get a cavity filled, tooth pulled, or even go in for a routine check up. Unfortunately, all across the country, patients going in for routine dental procedures end up in the hospital, or worse.

A woman in Las Vegas is suing the University of Nevada Las Vegas dental school for dental malpractice. After Marla McClure went in for dental care, dental students noted an abscess, but did not address the issue, or refer her to a specialist. It took more than three weeks before any action was taken, by which time the lawsuit alleges the abscess could have gone to her brain. McClure alleges the treatment fell below the acceptable dental standard of care.

One man who went in for oral surgery woke up with more than he could stomach after the surgeon dropped a dental drill bit down his throat. Istvan Balyi was going in for a fifth tooth implant, when the drill bit came off the drill. The dental surgeon told Balyi to sit up, and not to breath. She told him the drill bit was not sharp, and he should just swallow it. After a follow-up, an X-ray showed the drill bit was located in his colon, and told him to go to the emergency room. In the end, Balyi required a colonoscopy to remove the drill bit.

A family in Michigan is looking for answers after their daughter went in to have teeth pulled, and ended up dead. April Walters, 46-years-old, had been cleared by her doctor to have the dental procedure. However, before the dental procedure even began, the dental assistant noticed a problem with April’s vital signs. Her heart rate was tachycardic at 130 beats per minute. The dental assistant told the dentist they should wait for the heart rate to slow down, but the dentist allegedly said, “We’re fine,” and began the procedure.

After the dentist pulled 16 of the 18 teeth, the dentist stopped the procedure, and told the young woman she should go to the doctor for her elevated heart rate. The dentist told April’s sister, who was waiting to take her home, to take her to the doctor, but before they got out of the parking lot, April complained about shortness of breath. The dentist came out and yelled that she’d told her to go to the hospital. None of the staff appeared to know CPR, and by the time the ambulance arrived it was too late.

A man in Indiana says he went in to have four wisdom teeth removed, and he woke up toothless. Donny Grigsby was placed in a medically induced coma, according to his wife, and she came in to find him covered in blood. Grigsby and his wife are now filing a lawsuit against the dentist.

A woman in Chicago is suing her dentist for alleged negligence that resulted in her having to receive a root canal. She alleged the dentist failed to exercise due care causing her pain and suffering, and injury to multiple teeth. The lawsuit alleges more than $50,000 in damages.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of a dentist visit, the Gilman & Bedigian team is fully equipped to handle the complex process of your personal injury or dental malpractice claim. Our staff, including a physician and attorneys with decades of litigation experience, will focus on getting you compensation, so you can focus on healing and moving forward.