Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in Florida

Last year October 2012 I went for a teeth cleaning, the dentist told me that I had a broken jaw teeth which I already knew from a past dentist visit a year prior at another dentist, and I needed a crown. In November my wife was switching dental insurance which I was on and I was going to a new one from my current employment, so we decided to get a crown before the insurance changes since it would be cheaper. I was not having any pains or problems with the teeth during that time. In November I got the crown for the teeth, this is when I started having problems, I realized that I was unable to drink anything cold or chew on that teeth now since I would get a lot of pain. I went back to the dentist a couple of weeks after (December), they made an adjustment. I went back a second time again since I was still having problems, they made adjustments again, I went a third time, they made an adjustment but this time I was told to give it more time and see if the pain goes away otherwise I will need a root-canal.

It is now two months after my last visit, I am still unable to chew or drink anything cold on that side of my mouth and I have not gone back because I cannot afford a root canal; I don't trust the dentist anymore and in the beginning I was not having any problems with my teeth until after I place this crown in my mouth. I know I have to get it fixed now since I am having the pains but I should not have to do this in the first place.


Asked on 4/13/13, 3:36 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Barry Stein De Cardenas, Freixas, Stein & Zachary

Seek guidance first from another dentist to determine what happened. Did you need the root canal originally even without pain? Did the crown procedure cause the root canal to become painful? What did the xrays reveal before the crown was done? There are more questions in your scenario then answers. Bad results alone is not malpractice. You have to have another dentist say that the care which was given did not meet up to the standards in the community. After you get your dental opinion then seek a legal one. You have a 2 year statute of limitations that applies. act quickly to protect your rights.

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Answered on 4/13/13, 5:46 am


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