A woman in the US state of Minnesota is suing her dentist after she received four root canals, eight dental crowns and 20 fillings in a single visit – which she says disfigured her.
Basic points:
- Kathleen Wilson says her dentist caused her pain, embarrassment, disfigurement and distress
- He also says she provided an unsafe dose of anesthesia and falsified medical records to cover it up
- Another dentist who reviewed the case said it was ‘unthinkable’ that they could treat 28 teeth in five and a half hours
Kathleen Wilson filed a lawsuit last week accusing Kevin Molldrem of Molldrem Family Dentistry in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, of providing negligent treatment in July 2020 that caused serious injuries, along with providing an unsafe dose of anesthesia and falsifying medical records to cover it. the Star Tribune reported.
In addition to the medical costs, Ms Wilson said she suffered pain, embarrassment, disfigurement and distress. He is seeking at least $50,000 ($73,000) in damages.
Dr. Moldrem and his lawyer, Nathaniel Weimer, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on Thursday.
According to the Star Tribune, Ms. Wilson’s legal team retained Avrum Goldstein, a dentist in Florida, to provide an expert opinion and review Ms. Wilson’s medical records from Dr. Molldrem and subsequent providers.
Dr. Goldstein’s November 14 report found several breaches of duty of care. He said in the report that Dr Molldrem made the correct diagnosis but provided poor quality treatment.
An “inconceivable” visit
Ms. Wilson had decay “on almost every tooth in her mouth, which is quite rare,” Dr. Goldstein wrote. Dr. Moldrem’s attempt to restore all of Ms. Wilson’s teeth in one visit did not help address her susceptibility to disease or the potential for tooth loss, he said.
“Katie needed a slow, thoughtful, careful and measured response to her illness,” Dr. Goldstein said.
“Trying to fill every hole in every tooth in her mouth in one visit is not only the opposite of what was indicated, but it is not humanly possible to accomplish in an efficient or constructive manner.”
He added that it was “unthinkable” that they treated 28 teeth in five and a half hours.
One challenge of a long appointment was maintaining adequate anesthesia, Dr. Goldstein said. The maximum dose is 490mg — but Dr Molldrem gave 960mg to Ms Wilson.
Ms Wilson’s records show Dr Moldrem said he administered eight tubes of dental anaesthetic, known as carpules. But Dr. Goldstein found the first dose to be only eight cloves and administered 15 coils over the course of the visit.
Ms. Wilson went to a different dental office for evaluation while experiencing recurrent caries and other lesions. For several months in 2022, she was hospitalized at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry “to have many of her restorations repaired and replaced in an effort to stabilize her mouth,” Dr. Goldstein said.
If all of Ms Wilson’s teeth ended up being removed and replaced with implants, Dr Goldstein said “all the work that was done and all the costs associated with it would be for nothing”.
AP
