Negligence by dentists is as unacceptable as physicians, surgeons and other medical practitioners. People in Colorado who are scheduled for dental procedures while under sedation might be interested in a dental negligence lawsuit filed in another state. It involves a 44-year-old woman consulted with the dentist in Sept. 2018, after chipping one of her teeth.
According to the complaint, the dentist recommended the extraction of several teeth, including the plaintiff’s wisdom teeth. The procedure was scheduled for the extractions to occur under sedation. However, when the plaintiff woke up afterward, she allegedly discovered that the dentist had removed the wrong tooth. She claims to have asked the dentist why he pulled the wrong tooth, to which the dentist allegedly replied that she woke up during the procedure and ordered him to remove that tooth.
The following are the claims filed for dental negligence:
- Pulling the wrong tooth without her consent or knowledge
- Failing to pull her wisdom teeth as arranged
- Billing her insurance for extraction of her wisdom teeth
- Billing her insurance for a graft and other dental treatment that was never done
- Refusing the plaintiff’s request for her medical records
The plaintiff says she requested the records to allow her to arrange for dental treatment by another dentist. The plaintiff seeks between $250,000 and $1 million in damages.
Reportedly, this is not the first lawsuit filed against this dentist in recent months. A 70-year-old patient claims she was left toothless after the dentist convinced her to have all her teeth extracted and get implants instead. The lawsuit alleged the dentist falsified a credit application, and when the patient’s insurance refused to pay, the dentist would not do the implants.
Anyone in Colorado who believe they are the victims of dental negligence might have grounds to pursue financial relief. The Colorado civil justice system allows victims of medical negligence to file civil lawsuits to pursue recovery of documented damages.
