Complaints and accusations can badly affect a dentist’s career or let’s say their reputation as a dentist. A case can put a dentist into disciplinary action and their dental license may also be put at risk. If such a scenario happens to hire a dental attorney should be done first before anything else.
On or about May 15, 2018, a patient presented for a new patient examination at the dentist’s place of business located in Longview, Texas. The patient was seen and evaluated by the dentist. The initial examination included full mouth x-rays and periodontal probing.
According to the dentist’s patient progress notes, the patient presented with “extensive plaque and calculus buildup” and had “heavy enamel wear on the occlusal surfaces of her molars. There were large pits and fissures…” Based on these findings, the dentist proposed a treatment plan in chiding porcelain inlays/Onlays on eight molars, (#2, #3, #14, #15, #18, #19, #30, and #31), and periodontal treatment which included a full mouth debridement with laser decontamination. The dentist noted that he presented a second treatment option to restore the molars with amalgam fillings. According to the dentist’s notes, composite resin fills were not a good treatment option for the patient.
On May 15, 2018, the patient signed and paid for the treatment plan proposed to her. On the same day, all eight (8) of the patient’s molars were anesthetized, prepared for MODL Onlays, and were cemented using RelyX Unizem cement.
On May 17, 2018, the patient returned to the dentist’s dental office for a bite adjustment which resulted in pain in the top and bottom left side of her mouth.
And on June 5, 2018, the patient sought a second opinion from the subsequent dentist, who examined her and noted that her “inlay preps were large and comprised a majority of the occlusal table.” The subsequent dentist told the patient that composite resin fillings would have been an appropriate treatment plan.
Then on June 25, 2018, the Board received a complaint from the patient, which stated that the dentist over-diagnosed her dental condition, presented here only with the most expensive treatment option to restore her teeth, and, treated eight (8} teeth as opposed to the four (4) teeth that the patient agreed to.
The above incidents became the cause of the dentist’s misfortune. The dentist is subject to disciplinary action. The decision of the Board was based upon the result of the Board’s investigation and the evidence gathered. Unfortunately, the dentist was found to be negligent and has to face the consequence of his actions. The dentist even failed to hire a dental attorney for the case that he is in.
You should hire a dental attorney immediately before it’s too late. Texas dental attorney Yong J. An is one of those dedicated dental lawyers who helped various dentists in their cases since 2006. You may contact him 24/7 at (832) 428-5679 for more information or if you want to schedule a private consultation.