Q: my wife was injured during a dental appointment, just wondering if there is anything we can do?
after her tooth removal she developed lumps on her forehead and temple area, bruising on her cheek, abdomen, and knees that she had none of before
A: I am sorry to learn of your wife’s symptoms after her tooth extraction. What you mention in your question is concerning. Maine medical malpractice law requires that another similarly qualified dentist be able to objectively review the dental records and conclude based on that review that the dentist who performed the extraction violated the applicable standards of dental care. In this case we could expect the dental standards to be that a tooth extraction does not result in a patient developing bumps and bruises over unrelated parts of their body. However, there are questions that must be answered for a claim to proceed. For example, what evidence exists that, 1) your wife did not have the bumps and bruises before the extraction; and, 2) that the bumps and bruises were specifically caused by anything the dentist did? How is it documented that the bumps and bruises are specifically associated with the extraction? Have the bumps and bruises been medically documented in any way by a primary healthcare provider or other healthcare provider? The key, is to be able to determine if there a way to connect your wife’s symptoms with the extraction in an objective way? If there are favorable answers to these questions then an attorney can begin an investigation to develop evidence, contact a dentist to testify as an expert witness and begin an official claim.
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