Improper Root Canals Causing Serious Pain and Suffering: Kingston Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Kingston Medical Malpractice Lawyer Explains Improper Root Canals Causing Serious Pain and Suffering

While no one really enjoys going to the dentist, one of the most frightening phrases uttered to you in a dental office is that you need a root canal.  This procedure is notorious for its lengthly procedure and significant pain that it generates.  Root canals are one of the most feared procedures, with some patients saying they would rather go under anesthesia for surgery rather than have a root canal.  Thus, when a root canal is improperly performed it can really add insult to injury.  Serious personal injuries and significant pain and suffering are likely when due to improper root canals.  Our Kingston medical malpractice lawyer explains.

What is a Root Canal? 

Each tooth has a nerve tooth in the middle of it.  The nerve extends into the jawbone which is part of the cranial nerves.  A root canal is a complicated dental procedure which is performed when the nerve root of a tooth is compromised in some manner.  This is commonly due to when a cavity has burrowed deep enough into the tooth that it will enter the cavity encasing the root.  This can result in an infect and serious damage to the tooth, nerve, and even the gums or jawbone.

Thus, a root canal is a procedure wherein the doctor drills out the damage to the tooth.  The root is then removed down to the bottom of the tooth, below the gumline, but not through the bottom of the tooth.  These empty cavity is when packed with a temporary fill and an impression is made for a temporary crown.  The impression is made from your actual mouth’s contours and is sent to a lab.

It may take several weeks, but once the impression returns from the lab it is ready to be placed into your mouth.  The dentist will remove the temporary crown and put a “core” into the empty space of your tooth.  The dentist will also place in a “post” which will be in the middle of the core.  The post is meant to go down below your gumline to stabilize your tooth, as well as to stabilize the permanent crown which is about to be installed.  The permanent crown from the lab is then put into place and permanently glued/affixed to your remaining tooth structure.  The tooth no longer has a nerve, but the remaining tooth structure acts as a foundation for the permanent crown.

This procedure takes usually 2, and sometimes 3 or more visits with a dentist.  The most pain is the first procedure, but residual pain may continue for some time.  This is why a botched root canal could result in serious personal injuries from the significant pain and suffering that it causes to a patient.   Since the dentist is in full control of the procedure, mistakes such as drilling too far and through the tooth, not removing all of the nerve, failing to put enough core, failing to put a long enough post, and other mistakes, may result in significant personal injuries.  Shouldn’t the dentist be liable for these mistakes caused by him or her?

Absolutely!  But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.