MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota woman is suing her dentist after she received four root canals, eight dental crowns and 20 fillings in a single visit that she says left her disfigured.
Kathleen Wilson filed the lawsuit last week in Hennepin County District Court, accusing Dr. Kevin Molldrem of Molldrem Family Dentistry in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, that he provided negligent treatment in July 2020 that caused significant injuries to Wilson, along with providing an unsafe dose of anesthesia. and falsifying medical records to cover it up, the Star Tribune mentionted.
Moldrem and his attorney, Nathaniel Weimer, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press on Thursday.
According to the Star Tribune, Wilson’s legal team retained Dr. Avrum Goldstein, a Florida dentist, to provide an expert opinion and review Wilson’s medical records from Molldrem and subsequent providers. Goldstein’s November 14 report found several breaches of the duty of care.
Goldstein said in the report that Molldrem made the correct diagnosis but provided poor quality treatment.
Wilson had cavities “on almost every tooth in her mouth, which is pretty rare,” Goldstein wrote. Moldrem’s attempt to restore all of Wilson’s teeth in one visit didn’t help address her susceptibility to disease or the potential for tooth loss, she said.
“Katie needed a slow, thoughtful, careful and measured response to her illness. 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’s not humanly possible to accomplish in an efficient or constructive way,” Goldstein said, adding that it’s an “unthinkable” treatment. 28 teeth in 5 1⁄2 hours.
One challenge of a long appointment is maintaining adequate anesthesia, Goldstein said. The maximum dose is 490 mg — but Molldrem administered 960 mg to Wilson.
Wilson’s records show that Molldrem said he administered eight tubes of dental anesthetic, known as carpules. But Goldstein found the first dose to be only eight carpels and administered 15 carpels throughout the visit.
Wilson went to a different dental office for an evaluation that showed recurrent cavities and other damage. For several months in 2022, she underwent treatment at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry “to repair and replace many of her restorations in an effort to stabilize her mouth,” Goldstein said.
If all of Wilson’s teeth end up having to be removed and replaced with implants, Goldstein said “all the work that was done and all the expenses associated with it would be for nothing.”
In addition to the medical costs, Wilson said she suffered pain, embarrassment, disfigurement and distress. He is seeking at least $50,000 in damages.
