Dentist caused me an injury today, is it malpractice?!


Question: Dentist caused me an injury today, is it malpractice?
Had a back tooth taken out today. I am 3 months pregnant, so have dental exemption for tooth extraction.
The dentist was very aggressive when trying to get the tooth out and I had a bad feeling he was trying to rush and was going to hurt me in the process. I was fine and coping pretty well until, after less than 3 - 5 minutes the tooth loudly cracked off at the root.
I had thought that the tooth should be gradually loosened in a figure 8 until it could be pulled out, not pushed until it snaps off.
He then told me he'd lacerated my cheek whilst extracting the tooth and would need stitches. I imagined a huge gaping cut inside my cheek gushing with blood and immediately became extremely faint and ill!
He stitched it up and kept me in his office until I was well enough to get up and be taken home by my husband.
As it turned out the cut wasn't as bad as i'd thought, but it's all very sore now and have aching teeth, jaw and head.
I was just wondering if this kind of thing is common or normal during tooth extraction, or did the laceration occur due to malpractice? I do understand that even though there was a mistake or bad result it doesn't necessarily mean the dentist did anything wrong or that there was malpractice.
From what I have described, what is your understanding of the situation?
3 hours ago - 4 days left to answer.

Answers:

I’m a dentist.

Having read your story, it sounds like the doctor is very conscientious and attentive to your health, and did everything right with one exception: not taking an x-ray of the tooth because you were pregnant. If an adult tooth needs to be extracted -- especially a molar -- then an x-ray is indicated. Period. That was his one mistake.

As for the tooth snapping off at the gumline during extraction, I can tell you personally that it happens very frequently and it does not indicate incompetence on the doctor’s part. Teeth often break off at the gumline during extraction, especially when they are weakened by large areas of decay (which I’m guessing your tooth had). When they snap off, they snap off unexpectedly. Having extracted literally thousands upon thousands of teeth, I can tell you that extracting a tooth is not a gentle procedure. It always involves a substantial amount of force, and when the tooth breaks, it’s a surprise to both doctor and patient. More importantly, it’s rarely a problem (except that it makes the extraction a bit tougher for the doctor).

As for lacerating your cheek, let me say this: 1. accidents happen. And since it was a small one, it seems pretty clear that he wasn’t being reckless when performing his work. 2. It is very, very unlikely that you will develop an infection from the laceration in your cheek.

I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it sounds like this doctor is a good one. No doctor is perfect. No doctor has everything go 100% smoothly. But the one that treated you was concerned about your pregnancy. He was concerned about your well being (i.e. keeping you in the chair until he felt you were ok to leave). He was mindful of what was going on in your mouth (i.e. he sutured up the small laceration). And I’m assuming he removed the tooth.



I think laceration is done only when the teeth is going to be difficult to remove. So He would have seen this tru an x-ray and would have prepared you before the extraction.

http://bitly.com/12HToothAcheCure



I wouldn't think you have a case; when you enter the surgery and pay for the dentist to operate on you, you enter in an agreement with him/her. If you sustained injuries whilst he/she undertook the work you have paid them to do, it isn't their responsibility- unfortunately. There is a fine line between unavoidable injury and intent- if you believe he/she intended to hurt you, then of course, you have a case. This is very hard to prove though, and in my opinion you're better off just changing practitioner. Have a good rant though and see if you can get some well deserved compensation! ;)

hope this helped somewhat,
tom




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