Severe Infection

[manda0011]

SORRY THIS ONE IS LONG! Ok this story goes back about 1 yr ago, our family dentist performed a simple filling on my son's tooth (2nd to last). He was 4 yrs old at the time. Then about 2 months ago at a regular cleaning they noticed the filling had fallen out, so we made an appointment to have it refilled. A month ago we went in and the dentist did a whole new filling, after the procedure he warned me that baby teeth can be funny and to watch the tooth because he get very close to the nerves. Sure enough later that day my son is in agony over the tooth. The dentist gave us a prescription for amox and said that he would now need to do a root canal (pulpatomy ?sp?). So on thursday we went to the dentist to have this procedure done. Several things went awry! First off the dentist did not numb the area before inserting the needle for the anthestipic. My son was screaming from the pain of the needle and the burn of the medication. The dentist stopped after only intserting half the dose. He left the room and the nurse said that dr. will have to put in the rest. Well about 5 mins later he came back and just started drilling out the cavity without checking to see if he was numb. My son went through the roof! He was screaming and crying and thrashing from all the pain. However the dentist did not stop, he just kepting drilling and was yelling at my son to stop acting this way. Finally he stopped when I said to, and I said that my son was in too much pain. So the dentist finally gave him the rest of the medication. But he did not wait for it to take effect, he just went right back to drilling... and of course my son went right back to screaming. At this point the dentist was obviously upset. He stopped working and said that if my son couldn't straighten up he was going to have to send him elsewhere (at one point he even muttered how he didn't get paid enough for this!). I calmed my son down and the dentist "finished" the procedure. Then on Sunday my son started showing signs of infection again! His tooth hurt, his cheek was beginning to swell and it was very red. On Monday I called a different dentist to see their opinion.. Upon completing xrays I am informed that the dentist left the nerves in there! and really all he did was put another filling on top of the nerves. The dentist reccommended me to another dentist (the new one being a pedatric dentist). We started my son on Monday night w/ Augmentin. Tuesday when we went to see the other dentist his entire cheek and throat were swollen and his was in absolute pain. This dentist confirmed that the nerves are still present and that an actual pulpatomy was not completed. Now the tooth has become loose and this dentist informed me that it will have to be removed once the infection has cleared up. This dentist also said that he was fearful of the infection spreading any further so he told us to be admitted to hospital for IV antibotics. So since tuesday afternoon he has been receiving IV antibotics and as of yet the swelling hasn't improved (in fact this morning he couldn't open his eye!). A CT scan has been completed and there is not an abcess (abscess), its just an infection. Now my son (who never had a problem at the dentist before) is completing freaked out by anyone wanting to touch his mouth. This has been an overly traumtic experience that I feel was unnecessary if the dentist would have just done his job correctly.
Obviously I am a very upset person. In fact Monday night I called our family dentist and left a message w/ the receptionist stating that Mikey has a severe infection and I was not pleased with the service. But no one did anything about it. My question is what is my next best step? I feel that no only did we receive terrible treatment but the dentist flat out lied to me! he said he completed the procedure when I have 2 other dentists saying otherwise. What should be my next course of action? Should I contact him again and see what he has to say? Or should I just go the Board?

[Jenny445]

OMG that is scaring the heck out of me, I have to take my son in for a pulpatomy next week!

[KLT83]

I feel for you. Im not really sure what you could do, but from the information I have gathered you can contact The Board of Dentistry in your State. By calling any Dentist in your state they have the Phone #'s nedded . I reall hope that you are able to do something about this. I have  4 and 6 year old boys. alot of doctors and dentists need to understand that these are just children. I am so sorry about what happened to your son, I really hope that he gets better from this, give him a hug from me :)

Kyia

[KLT83]

Oh, and I would also think about contacting a lawyer. They might also give you some advise on what to do

[Tlholo]

i would sue the dentist who did not do his job like he should have.my mother had an abcess (abscess) and went through similar pain as your son,so i can imagine what your son went through.That dentist should at least be warned officially,or he should lose his license all together.We wouldnt want any more children to go through what you son went through just bcoz a dentist with no empathy refuses to do his job properly.dentists are not meant to scare children,they're meant to help them!!!!