[quote]Professor X wrote:
APE. wrote:
O.K. let me get this straight how many did he swallow?
I lost two teeth a few months back in a fight an they told me I had to pass them. They never mentioned about if they got in my intestine; then me possibly needing surgery. Is it because his age are health related issues?
Either way he (the dentist) needs to be brought up to the state board an have his license taken away.
Take away his license because a patient swallowed something that small? Let me guess, the patient never has anything to do with this in these situations. What if he tried to bite the dentist’s hand and that is how it was dropped?
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OMG A time for me to chime!
The file he swallowed - that is NOT a rare occurance - it has happened quite a number of times. The dentist could have done one or both of two things to stop that - use a rubber dam (it’s exactly as it sounds - a piece of rubber that dams the mouth, so nothing goes out) or tied floss around the file.
My guess is the dentist couldn’t use a rubber dam because of the cerebal palsy medical condition. The question of if it was negligence arises on when the file was swallowed.
If it was whilst the dentist was there, he is an idiot for not putting floss around the file so he could stop it. I’m not sure on american law, but in Australia he’d be raped in court and be ordered for a retraining in endodontic safety principles.
HOWEVER, i have heard that american law is not so strict with regards to usage of rubber dam and other safety for root canal; not to mention if he is an older dentist (im not sure) he likely didnt receive instruction on preventative mechanisms.
If the file was swallowed during an x-ray, there may well be contributory negligence if any orders were disobeyed eg he tried to close his mouth or anything…
Either way, you can prob sue him and get his indemnity to pay you some without worrying about going to court if you really want. Though considering the outcome, i’d simply ask that the procedure be done for free, with a free crown of course
This is no reason to degregister a dentist, but it is justifyable to force retraining in endodontic safety (continuing education class?) - he may be an older dentist from back before dams and floss were used for safety.
Hope that makes sense, kinda tired… will reread it later…