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As an attorney that’s involved in numerous injury cases where someone has been hurt, occasionally we run into a scenario involving a trip to the dentist. Most of us are accustomed to visiting our dentist twice a year for a routine checkup and are perfectly comfortable with our dental care. Choosing a dentist is a very important endeavor and selection should not be treated too lightly. In some cases a dental visit can have lasting effects that could cause you to endure unnecessary pain and suffering. Recently, I read about one such horror story about a patient whose oral surgery went very wrong. What is so alarming is that she did not know she had been harmed until side-effects started to show up a while after her operation.

A lawsuit claimed that a dentist had left a drill bit inside a Tampa woman’s skull for almost an entire year. According to the lawsuit Donna Delgao’s surgeon left behind a one inch length of steel in a wound after her dental surgery in 2008. The tool was lodged in the woman’s right maxillary sinus. Delgao suffered for 11 months with unexplained nosebleeds, dizziness and sinus infections until it was finally discovered and removed by a professional. The Tampa woman’s attorney reported that she may also be experiencing long term effects not yet determined as a result of possible nickel poisoning. The dental negligence lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages along with a trial by jury. The lawsuit mentions the oral surgeon by the name, Ralph Eichstaedt and the St. Petersburg Times newspaper said he would not comment on his lawsuit.

If you have suffered your own injury as a result of negligence of your dentist or oral surgeon, whether by the result of a surgical mistake or dental error, please call a qualified attorney who regularly handles medical malpractice cases. They will be able to tell you about your options to try to get the compensation you deserve.

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2 Comments

  1. Gravatar for Nick Konev
    Nick Konev

    Interesting information --- we don't see too much of this at our clinic. Is there a certain length of time that someone must report these types of injuries?

  2. Gravatar for Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton
    Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton

    Thanks for the question Nick. The statute of limitations for a personal injury in North Carolina is typically three years. Though, there are some exceptions to the general rule.

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