Hey everyone looking for advice here. My GF had to have a tooth pulled 2 weeks ago. It was on a Monday and was one of the eye tooth (think that's what it was called) and has been in severe pain since. Now she got this pulled on a Monday and was given pain meds, called again on Wednesday because something wasen't right as it was still massive pain, and they just gave her more pain meds and a syringe to wash out the hole in her mouth. Well the weekend comes and she is still in severe pain Saturday night so we call the on call number. The dental assistant answers and says she can't get ahold of the dentist so we need to go to the er. I ask her "Since we are extremely strapped for cash and can't afford the visit, is your office going to pay this visit for us?" She said no and that we should have come in during the week. I told her that's why we came in Wednesday. Well she called us back just as we got into the ER and said well I'm can call in Tramadol for you and Antibiotics. I told her my gf already takes tramadol for leg problems and she said then I'm not going to call in anything. They even refused to look at it that weekend, and as soon as we went in the ER the dr said "WHOA" and gave her Percocet, Motrin 800's, and a round of antibiotics. Well she goes to see the dentist first thing monday morning last week and he just says that he did not perscribe any pain medication for her over the weekend because he could lose his license. We did not ask for pain meds mind you and asked for someone to look at it that weekend. Well come Friday it is now swollen, puss filled, and has BONE coming out of the gum. We call the on call number again as the office was closed. Again the dental assistant picked up the phone and said "Well you should've come in this week we were open all week" my gf said "We did on Monday and was told to wait it out". Well it gets so bad that we ask her if there is a way someone can look at it, again she says no to make an appointment for Monday. So we make another trip to the ER friday night, get more pain meds. While there my GF actually asked the dr if they could just rip the bone out and they wouldn't even touch it saying it looked bad and she needed to see the dentist. Well she goes back this morning and they are telling her now to wait two more weeks to see if the bone comes out. I would take her for a second opinion, but, we are beyond cash strapped to the point I had to get a 2nd job on top of my full time job just to help make ends meet. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and btw, we will be having a sit down with the head dentist when it is all said and done explaining that we will be taking our business else where and why we are taking our business else where to avoid this same ordeal happening to current/future patients.
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- Thread starter Rtstrider
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I work in the medical field and that sounds like the dentist dosen't know what is going on with his/her practice at all! Despite cash being low( Ive been there, so have others, it absolutely sucks), I would go to another dentist. Then I would get in touch with a good lawyer, and start the lawsuit process. Despite being in the medical field and hating medical malpractice lawyers, this sounds like a prime example of a malpractice suit.
That's what I told my gf as well. I also told her to hold onto all paperwork and even had the ER specify on the paperwork why she was there on both vists as well. We really don't want to go the malpractice route. We just want the issue resolved, but, at the same time want to be prepared for worst case.
Get DOCUMENTED proof of her condition !! Make sure you have all that - records/pics/scans from ER, etc.
If this isn't malpractice, IDK what is.
If this isn't malpractice, IDK what is.
Wow! It's obvious your GF has picked up a very nasty infection from the original dental work and the dental office refuses to acknowledge this. I guess they're hoping if she gets enough antibiotics at the ER that will cure it and they're off the hook. This needs to be taken care of right away before the infection causes permanent damage to her jaw bone or gums.
By best advice to you, and I don't say this lightly, is start documenting everything and get yourself a good malpractice lawyer. Dentists are human and they can make mistakes, but to blow off your GF problems by telling her to wait it out is very wrong.
By best advice to you, and I don't say this lightly, is start documenting everything and get yourself a good malpractice lawyer. Dentists are human and they can make mistakes, but to blow off your GF problems by telling her to wait it out is very wrong.
Wow , sorry to hear about that bad dental visit. that dentist and their assistants sound like they are in the wrong business. I can say my dentist is always there for me and I can get in to see him if there was a major issue like you had. my guy is very good and I am glad to have him. sorry for the long rant but I would see if you could borrow money if you have to and see another dentist. my wife is a nurse and said that infections can be very serious especially if they are in the mouth. it might be a good idea to seek some legal advice to recoup the extra money and hassle you have had to deal with. I am not the type of person to sue but your case seems to be a legit one to me. good luck
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Rtstrider- The infection can get very serious if it gets into the bone and ends up spreading. First thing I would do is go to another dentist (preferably someone who is known to you/family/friend). After the dental work is finished, then get all of the papers together and go to a medical malpractice lawyer.
It is totally inexcusable that the dentist and the dental assistant totally blew you off. Mistakes happen and infections happen as well, but this was way more than that, this was poor patient care in my opinion.
It is totally inexcusable that the dentist and the dental assistant totally blew you off. Mistakes happen and infections happen as well, but this was way more than that, this was poor patient care in my opinion.
Originally Posted By: FirstNissan
Rtstrider- The infection can get very serious if it gets into the bone and ends up spreading. First thing I would do is go to another dentist (preferably someone who is known to you/family/friend). After the dental work is finished, then get all of the papers together and go to a medical malpractice lawyer.
It is totally inexcusable that the dentist and the dental assistant totally blew you off. Mistakes happen and infections happen as well, but this was way more than that, this was poor patient care in my opinion.
great advice in my eyes here. get to somebody as soon as possible. infections are serious and nothing to play around with. the way treated you is unacceptable to me and nobody should get that lack of care from a trained professional in the medical field. my thoughts are with the both of you.
Rtstrider- The infection can get very serious if it gets into the bone and ends up spreading. First thing I would do is go to another dentist (preferably someone who is known to you/family/friend). After the dental work is finished, then get all of the papers together and go to a medical malpractice lawyer.
It is totally inexcusable that the dentist and the dental assistant totally blew you off. Mistakes happen and infections happen as well, but this was way more than that, this was poor patient care in my opinion.
great advice in my eyes here. get to somebody as soon as possible. infections are serious and nothing to play around with. the way treated you is unacceptable to me and nobody should get that lack of care from a trained professional in the medical field. my thoughts are with the both of you.
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Yeah he said to wait for two weeks to see if the bone grinds down or works it's way out. If it's still an issue by then he will cut open the gum, file down the bone, then stitch it back up. So he is at least offering a solution. What I told my gf in that case is to document all of the ER visits and if it becomes unbearable we will both go up there and demand a resolution to this issue.
First, sorry for the ordeal your GF and you have been through.
What your GF got sounds like an example of what is called a 'dry socket', common with tooth extractions. Based on the later swelling/pus sounds like an ensuing infection. I guess the fact that you told the nurse that your gf already takes tramadol for another issue must have scared her off from at least calling in the antibiotic, which based on your description and er follow up, was needed.
Obviously, the most important thing now is to try an get the medical issues cleared up. There will plenty of time later to focus on the er visit costs and any legal considerations.
fwiw, I had a tooth pulled last year with no complications, all of which were explained in a pamphlet with an emergency contact number clearly noted to me before I left the office.
What your GF got sounds like an example of what is called a 'dry socket', common with tooth extractions. Based on the later swelling/pus sounds like an ensuing infection. I guess the fact that you told the nurse that your gf already takes tramadol for another issue must have scared her off from at least calling in the antibiotic, which based on your description and er follow up, was needed.
Obviously, the most important thing now is to try an get the medical issues cleared up. There will plenty of time later to focus on the er visit costs and any legal considerations.
fwiw, I had a tooth pulled last year with no complications, all of which were explained in a pamphlet with an emergency contact number clearly noted to me before I left the office.
The ER should be able to refer you to a dentist that's open weekends and understanding WRT money. If they can't, a malpractice attorney can; they will want a dentist to document you in your worst condition so they can start the suit.
Keep your phone records, they show due diligence of you calling to try and straighten this out.
Fix your health and let the money sort itself out later. Emergency dentistry must have some sort of finance option even if it's $20/month until eternity. In fact this is a good option to just pay interest until any potential malpractice award gets figured out.
Don't sit down with the head dentist, they probably won't let you see him and telling him off won't win anyone anything.
Keep your phone records, they show due diligence of you calling to try and straighten this out.
Fix your health and let the money sort itself out later. Emergency dentistry must have some sort of finance option even if it's $20/month until eternity. In fact this is a good option to just pay interest until any potential malpractice award gets figured out.
Don't sit down with the head dentist, they probably won't let you see him and telling him off won't win anyone anything.
Hey eljefino that's what I was thinking as well, but, definitely love having more insight on this. So since the dentist offered to fix it if we wait 2 weeks should we wait or get it fixed now? I know the crowd will say FIX IT NOW. But, if the offer is there would there be any reason to get it fixed elsewhere before then?
That's why it's important to get a thorough diagnosis and treatment from a good dentist. Perhaps it started as a dry socket and with infection developed into something worse.
Regardless, get the treatment she needs first, then later concern yourself with the other factors, costs and legal.
Regardless, get the treatment she needs first, then later concern yourself with the other factors, costs and legal.
Originally Posted By: Rtstrider
Hey eljefino that's what I was thinking as well, but, definitely love having more insight on this. So since the dentist offered to fix it if we wait 2 weeks should we wait or get it fixed now? I know the crowd will say FIX IT NOW. But, if the offer is there would there be any reason to get it fixed elsewhere before then?
Yes because a bone infection can kill you quick.
Get on WEBMD until you scare yourself.
Hey eljefino that's what I was thinking as well, but, definitely love having more insight on this. So since the dentist offered to fix it if we wait 2 weeks should we wait or get it fixed now? I know the crowd will say FIX IT NOW. But, if the offer is there would there be any reason to get it fixed elsewhere before then?
Yes because a bone infection can kill you quick.
Get on WEBMD until you scare yourself.
Was that one sentence?
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: Rtstrider
Hey eljefino that's what I was thinking as well, but, definitely love having more insight on this. So since the dentist offered to fix it if we wait 2 weeks should we wait or get it fixed now? I know the crowd will say FIX IT NOW. But, if the offer is there would there be any reason to get it fixed elsewhere before then?
Yes because a bone infection can kill you quick.
Get on WEBMD until you scare yourself.
You are not kidding. my wife has told me about people that have either died or almost died from an infection. the thing is she said they started out small and spread though their system. her thoughts on anything infected in the mouth is do not wait. an infection has a lot of pathways to other parts of your system and once the infection goes into the bone etc...... you are in big trouble.
Originally Posted By: Rtstrider
Hey eljefino that's what I was thinking as well, but, definitely love having more insight on this. So since the dentist offered to fix it if we wait 2 weeks should we wait or get it fixed now? I know the crowd will say FIX IT NOW. But, if the offer is there would there be any reason to get it fixed elsewhere before then?
Yes because a bone infection can kill you quick.
Get on WEBMD until you scare yourself.
You are not kidding. my wife has told me about people that have either died or almost died from an infection. the thing is she said they started out small and spread though their system. her thoughts on anything infected in the mouth is do not wait. an infection has a lot of pathways to other parts of your system and once the infection goes into the bone etc...... you are in big trouble.
I had a root canal about a year and a half ago and my dentist sent me out to a specialist rather than to try to do it herself. The specialist is called an endodontist. I was very grateful to my dentist for doing that rather than trying to hack through it herself, which is usually what happens when I hear about people having bad experiences with root canals.
The place I went, they do about 100 root canals a day so I had a lot of confidence that they would do a good job and they did. They gave me a local that didn't contain vaso-dialators like I wanted, and a miligram of Xanax, and it went as smooth as silk. Very little pain afterwards, although I was a little loopy for a while.
More about endodontists: http://www.aae.org
The place I went, they do about 100 root canals a day so I had a lot of confidence that they would do a good job and they did. They gave me a local that didn't contain vaso-dialators like I wanted, and a miligram of Xanax, and it went as smooth as silk. Very little pain afterwards, although I was a little loopy for a while.
More about endodontists: http://www.aae.org
I would consult with a malpractice lawyer. The consult is typically free and they'll let you know if you have any sort of case; my guess it that your dentist will try to settle out-of-court through their malpractice insurance.
It is a bit disconcerting to hear how they tried to pass you off to another doctor so quickly.
It is a bit disconcerting to hear how they tried to pass you off to another doctor so quickly.
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