Should I sue my dentist for his negligence?
My three year old daughter had a cavity in her molar teeth and we noticed swelling on her right face. We recently moved to this place, so contacted a family friend who is a regular visitor (for 7-8 years) to this famous dental group in Chicago suburbs. After initial X-Rays and analysis, the dentist recommended immediate removal of daughters tooth before it becomes worse…so far so good and I gave OK to do so. Dentist numbed my daughters mouth and started working and I was asked to leave the exam room. After 15 minutes, the dentist told me in private that the tooth was extracted but it was swallowed by my daughter. The dentist was tensed and told me that this never happened in their facility before. He also said he is looking into to the protocols need to be followed in this matter. I was shocked and upset with what he said but I was more worried about my kids health. Then he sent us to a nearby hospital (emergency care) for X-Rays of both heart and stomach. **He agreed to take care of any expenses incurred due to this.
After 4 long hours of trauma, X-Ray results showed that the tooth is in the stomach. Then the dentist called us to inform that nothing to be worried and the tooth should come out in 3-5 days and it’s not required to watch the stools every time. Even though he is not serious, we insisted for another XRay in next 3-4 days.
I still have no idea how this can happen? The tooth is a front tooth and there is no way it can be swallowed. This IS a PURE negligence by dentist.
The tooth is still inside the stomach. What are my options now?
1. If the tooth comes out in a day or two (from today – 11/06/2009), do i still have to worry about any future side affects? My kids health is what matters right now, not punishing the dentist or getting money from him.
2. During the initial diagnosis, dentist also said there is another tooth with a small cavity on the other side of the mouth and that needs to be analyzed/replaced next week. With all this happened, i am not sure if i can go there again.
Thx.
Teeth are like bones, and one so small as a three year olds front tooth is tiny. What harm could it do? It will just pass through.
Suing the dentist will probably get you no where, you probably signed documents before the procedure saying you waive your right to sue etc. if something goes wrong, and I hardly see it as negligence.
I’d be more worried about the condition of your daughters mouth! I have never heard of a three year old with cavities before! What do you feed her? That is terrible! Do you make her brush her teeth? I suggest you start enforcing dental hygiene and put her on a diet! What if these were her adult teeth? Do you want her to wear false teeth at age 6? I am just astonished!
How can you sue him if he already agreed to pay for the expenses of the incident? Digesting a tooth will not have future side effects (babies swallow their baby teeth when they come loose).
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No you should not sue your dentist. Even though it may have been a front tooth, the patient is always leaned back, so gravity could make a slippery tooth go to the back of the mouth. Your daughter will be absolutely fine. It’s not like she swallowed a knife! hee hee
A three-year old’s tooth is tiny and does not have a root so I really believe she will be just fine.
Good luck.
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I’m a dental assistant
All proper protocols were followed in this case. I’ve had a patient swallow a tooth before as well. If you take out teeth as a dentist, it will happen sooner or later. No ill effects will happen from swallowing a tooth. It will pass. I would be more concerned about why her teeth got to this condition on the first place and concentrate your energies there.
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Dentist
Teeth are like bones, and one so small as a three year olds front tooth is tiny. What harm could it do? It will just pass through.
Suing the dentist will probably get you no where, you probably signed documents before the procedure saying you waive your right to sue etc. if something goes wrong, and I hardly see it as negligence.
I’d be more worried about the condition of your daughters mouth! I have never heard of a three year old with cavities before! What do you feed her? That is terrible! Do you make her brush her teeth? I suggest you start enforcing dental hygiene and put her on a diet! What if these were her adult teeth? Do you want her to wear false teeth at age 6? I am just astonished!
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