Dentist extracted the wrong tooth!

jazzy

My wife had a dentist's appointment today for a tooth extraction on one of her front teeth. The dentist discovered a problem on her last visit after an x-ray.

When she arrived home after today's extraction she discovered that the dentist had removed the wrong tooth! A back tooth was removed instead!

I am fuming on what has happened. I called at the dentist who just informed me to make an appointment to see what has happened.

I know nothing can be done now, so make sure the same does not happen to you!

Emma37

Was the back tooth decayed as well? Perhaps it needed removing too. If that wasn't the case and he extracted a perfectly good tooth I'd be very angry. By taking out the wrong tooth he's been negligent.

:mad:

alison999

i always think its best to wait until she sees the dentist again. im not sticking up for the dentist BUT where you there hen she was in surgery? when her treatment was planned? theres a big difference between a front and back tooth, why didnt she realise when he/she started the treatment?

jazzy

I was in the surgery with her but that does not make any difference. I would have thought that there would be no problem after her previous appointment with a x-ray, surely the dentist should know what tooth to take out?
I can only assume because of the anesthetic it numbed the complete side of the mouth thats why she could not feel which tooth was being pulled.
Anyway my wife is being very diplomatic and does not want to take any action. If it was me it would be a very different story.

LondonDiva

Wait until the appointment with teh dentsit, then go away and reflect on the discussion.

If your wife has concerns & wants to take it forward, she can approach the PALS team at her local PCT for assistance. If she's unhappy after an informal approach, they can advise her on the complaints process.

bank_of_slate

jazzy wrote: »

I was in the surgery with her but that does not make any difference. I would have thought that there would be no problem after her previous appointment with a x-ray, surely the dentist should know what tooth to take out?
I can only assume because of the anesthetic it numbed the complete side of the mouth thats why she could not feel which tooth was being pulled.
Anyway my wife is being very diplomatic and does not want to take any action. If it was me it would be a very different story.

When anaesthetized she would still have been aware of the pressure and pressing sensation!
Go back and discuss this with the dentist.
...Linda xx

alison999

bank_of_slate wrote: »

When anaesthetized she would still have been aware of the pressure and pressing sensation!
Go back and discuss this with the dentist.
...Linda xx

i agree.

maybe she needed 2 teeth out, and thats what the next appointment is for?

im not taking the dentists 'side', i know a dentist that did rct on the wrong tooth, it happens rarely. BUT just get all the facts before jump in with both feet.

as for going to pals, why not just try to sort it out with the practice first? go with her to her next appointment and voice your concerns, then, you'll hear the response from the horses mouth. if youre still not happy after that, when you get down to reception ask to speak to the practice manager, get it sorted there and then.

tirednewdad

If the tooth did need to come out then fair enough, sometimes things get confused in the conversations between dentists and patients.

If however, The tooth that was removed was healthy then i would be fuming aswell.
When is the appointment to see the dentist? Is it convinent for your wife. If it isn't remember that if the wrong tooth was removed, then you are the empowered one and the dentist will try to do everything they can, too please you.

if it was the wrong tooth then the dentist will put his hand up to it and you have to come to a compromise- whether it be a replacement tooth (implant) or a waiving of the costs.

remember the dentist is human. Mistakes do happen and he will be really worried if it is the wrong tooth.

Hopefully a satisfactory compromise can be reached. If however it is not then all practices will have a complaints proceedure. If again there is no resolution after going down this route, then call your local health authority.

alison999

tirednewdad wrote: »

If the tooth did need to come out then fair enough, sometimes things get confused in the conversations between dentists and patients.

If however, The tooth that was removed was healthy then i would be fuming aswell.
When is the appointment to see the dentist? Is it convinent for your wife. If it isn't remember that if the wrong tooth was removed, then you are the empowered one and the dentist will try to do everything they can, too please you.

if it was the wrong tooth then the dentist will put his hand up to it and you have to come to a compromise- whether it be a replacement tooth (implant) or a waiving of the costs.

remember the dentist is human. Mistakes do happen and he will be really worried if it is the wrong tooth.

Hopefully a satisfactory compromise can be reached. If however it is not then all practices will have a complaints proceedure. If again there is no resolution after going down this route, then call your local health authority.

i totally agree