Results tagged “dental malpractice” from Medical Malpractice Lawyers & Attorneys

In Washington, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration made a clear ruling today regarding silver-colored mercury fillings.  The FDA ruled that these fillings are in fact safe for patients.  Prior to today, the FDA had cautioned pregnant women and children against obtaining mercury fillings from dentists.  Now, that decision has been reversed.

According to the FDA, "elemental mercury has been associated with adverse health effects at high exposures, the levels released by dental amalgam fillings are not high enough to cause harm in patients."  The FDA released this information after reviewing 200 separate cases. 

In 2006, a group by the name of Moms Against Mercury sued the FDA, along with other groups, to have the mercury fillings removed from the dental market.  The panel presiding over the lawsuit said that most outside experts agreed that patients would not be harmed by the mercury fillings, but they still needed to gather more information before making a final statement.

In the past 20 years, over 141 reports have been filed for problems patients incurred after receiving mercury fillings.  Mercury remains a very controversial topic as it has been known to cause a vast array of medical conditions like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.  

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A dental malpractice lawsuit involving a botched surgery will move forward to trial in St. Clair County, Illinois.

The lawsuit was filed by Dennis Reed, a singer, who claims the botched surgery to remove a temporary bridge has hurt his singing career.  The lawsuit was filed against Dr. Harvey Breckner, Dr. Dane Robinson, and Dr. Mark Beehner. 

Reed claims that Dr. Breckner fractured two of his teeth during the surgery, and that the newly installed bridge didn't fit properly, resulting in a cross bite.  Reed also sued Breckner for breach of contract over his dental expenses.

In the lawsuit, Reed states that his dental problems have affected his ability to change notes with the speed and accuracy needed for his profession.

According to the lawsuit, Breckner agreed to accept financial responsibility for the injuries and for Reed's follow-up treatment.

After reaching an agreement with Breckner, Reed saw Dr. Beehner, who installed implants for two of the damaged teeth.  But according Reed, Beehner used gloved hands to install the implants instead of sterile instruments.  He also claims Beehner didn't take x-rays to determine whether or not there was enough base bone to place implants in his mouth, and that the implants impinged on his nerve.  Reed is claiming that he suffered an infection, paralysis of the lip and lower jaw, bone and gum loss, disfigurement, and damage to his ability to sing.

In the lawsuit, Reed also claims that Dr. Robinson pierced part of his mouth and hit a nerve while implanting teeth, that he didn't use the implants properly, and that he used a non FDA-approved protein.  Reed claims the treatment he received from Robinson made him more susceptible to infection, and that it caused the same problems he suffered from Dr. Beehner's treatment.

All three of the dentists listed in the lawsuit are being sued for pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of income, disability, medical expenses, and other charges.

Reed is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.

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The family of New Jersey man who died after having his wisdom teeth extracted has been awarded more than $11 million in damages.

A Middlesex County jury determined that Dr. George Flugrad, an oral surgeon in the city of Perth Amboy, committed medical malpractice by failing to get clearance from Francis Keller's doctor before performing the oral procedure in 2005.

According to the lawsuit, Keller told Flugrad that he had a hereditary condition that caused his immune system to react to any trauma to his face or hands by swelling.  That condition caused Keller's throat, face, and hands to swell, which ultimately caused his airway to close slowly following the surgery.

Flugrad blamed Keller's primary dentist, John Madaris, for Keller's death.  Madaris, who was also named in the lawsuit, was cleared by a jury.

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Recently, a woman in Akron, Ohio filed a lawsuit against a dental chain.  The woman, Faye Lewis, claimed in her dental malpractice lawsuit that she incurred permanent injury after ill-fitting dental work that contained toxic materials was placed inside her mouth.  The lawsuit alleges that Aspen Dental and two of their dentists were negligent, which led to Lewis sustaining a serious injury.

Aspen Dental is a chain that operates 110 offices in 10 states. 

When asked about her lawsuit, Lewis said, "We should not be victims when we go to the dentist."

Lewis claims that since her dental work, her jaw slips out of place, swells and that her teeth do not meet.  She must also wear a special device for Temporomandicular joint disorder, a medical condition that causes her pain, inflammation and impairment.

74 year old Lewis alleges that when she went to Aspen Dental, the dentists caused her permanent damage and pain because they installed a bridge that was far too large for her mouth.  She said that they filed it to make it fit, but that only made matters worse.  "From the very onset, I had pain in my face," said Lewis.   Her lawsuit states that the dental work used in her mouth was unsafe and also hazardous to her health because it contained toxic materials.

After much discomfort, Lewis brought her bridge to a lab where scientists performed tests and discovered high amounts of lead.  When she heard the devastating news, Lewis decided to take legal action.

Further investigations revealed that one of the dentists listed in the lawsuit is currently on probation for past problems treating patients.

Lewis is seeking compensation for her medical expenses and also her trial.

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