Before dental implant surgery, a dentist typically performs a thorough examination to determine your suitability for the procedure. Diagnostic tests could determine if you have healthy enough teeth and gums to handle implants. As noted by Healthline, preexisting medical conditions such as gum disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis could cause complications.
A dentist may ask you to first treat a condition so that it does not interfere with post-procedure healing. Failing to take recommended preliminary steps could cause the procedure to fail. Other medical issues could also develop.
Which circumstances could lead to serious medical issues?
Research published on the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s website notes that cardiovascular diseases could affect a patient’s blood flow. With restricted oxygenated blood flow, tissues may not heal properly after an implant procedure. According to the Mayo Clinic, individuals who smoke or who have sinus problems may also have less than successful implant outcomes.
As noted by WebMD, individuals with heart conditions may require antibiotics before undergoing a dental procedure. A release of bacteria into the bloodstream related to a dental procedure could lead to a worsened cardiovascular condition. A discussion or review of the relationship between a dental procedure and heart health could help avoid serious complications.
What may reflect a dentist’s negligence?
Researchers estimate 5% to 10% of dental implants fail each year. Neglecting to diagnose a preexisting condition prior to an implant procedure may reflect malpractice and require legal action. A dentist may, for example, have overlooked an issue related to a patient’s sinuses, which could cause a misplaced implant to protrude into a sinus cavity.
Dental practitioners owe a duty of care to examine patients thoroughly before performing a procedure. Without reviewing 3D images or X-rays, a dentist may miss discovering a potential problem that affects a patient’s recovery or future health.
Prescription errors occur all the time despite various measures to prevent them. Some actions during the process from prescribing to the medication ending up in your hand can lead to mistakes.
An error could mean you end up with the wrong medication or wrong instructions for taking the right medication. In any case, a mistake could have serious health consequences. The Pharmaceutical Journal explains prescription errors are preventable, so understanding what causes them can help to negate them.
Wrong directions or dosage
Whether your doctor prescribes the wrong dose or something gets messed up at the pharmacy, getting the incorrect directions or dosage of a medication can cause harm. If you take too much medication, it could lead to an overdose. Too little could mean you do not get the benefits of the medication. Not having the right instructions may only cause slight discomfort. For example, if you should take a medication with food to avoid stomach upset, but those instructions are not given to you, then you may end up with an upset stomach.
Medication interactions
If you do not tell your doctor about other medications you are taking or your doctor fails to realize you are taking other medications, it could lead to an interaction that causes trouble. Some medication interactions are mild but they can be severe in some cases.
Allergic reactions
Sometimes, allergic reactions are unpreventable because you have not had the reaction before, but if you know of allergies to medications, it is essential to alert your doctor and pharmacy. Letting both places know should help to prevent issues with one of them missing the allergy. If not caught, you could suffer a reaction with minor to severe symptoms.
Prescription errors can happen to anyone. Staying alert and aware of your medication details can help you to stop medical professionals from making such mistakes.
Dentists across the U.S. perform at least 15 million root canals on damaged teeth each year, according to the American Association of Endodontists. A dentist’s error, however, may result in an infection. It may also take months or years to discover that a dentist’s negligence caused an injury.
As noted by Health.com, a tooth may become infected or diseased after a root canal if it did not fully heal after the procedure. Although some recovering patients may not experience immediate pain, an infected or damaged tooth may not have received a thorough enough treatment.
Dental negligence during a root canal procedure
Root canals remove decaying pulp located within layers of infected or damaged teeth. If a dentist fails to remove all the decaying material, a tooth may become diseased. An oral condition may develop and eventually spread to surrounding teeth, gums or cheeks.
Dentists owe a duty of care to their patients and must protect them from harm. As noted on the National Institutes of Health website, an unexpected puncture or failing to use a rubber dam could cause injuries. A rubber dam may prevent an anesthetized patient from swallowing or inhaling dental instruments.
Damage from delaying tooth restoration
Oral problems may develop if a dentist delays in providing a permanent restoration. Serious injury could result from a dentist failing to measure a patient’s teeth and then placing an ill-fitting crown. This may allow bacteria to survive and cause an infection.
Symptoms of an oral infection include pain, swelling and pressure. If symptoms continue after a root canal, a patient may require legal action for recovery. Damages may include expenses for medical treatment and corrective oral surgery. The court may also award compensation for the loss of wages and a patient’s pain and suffering.
