A little over a year ago, I had a root canal performed by a local dentist. During the root canal, even though I had shots of Novocain, I was in a lot of pain. After the procedure was over, every time I bite down, I got a slight irritation in that tooth, but I know this was normal since I had just got a root canal. A few weeks later, I came back to finish some fillings and the entire time I was in the chair, I could feel everything. I made him stop several times and he had to continue to give me more shots. I have been to other dentist before, and never have felt pain during a filling so I decided not to return to that doctor. Months later, the pain in the root canal tooth began to worsen until 2 months ago I could not open my mouth it hurt so badly. I went to a new dentist in my network which I love and he referred me to an endodontic dentist who had to reconstruct my root canal. When I asked her, in her opinion, what caused this to happen, she stated that the original job was botched and done incorrectly. The tooth was so badly infected that I had to wait an additional week on antibiotic to do the procedure. It cost me $700.00 (my portion) to have the reconstructions done, and since my insurance does not cover crown replacement within 1 year, $750.00 for a new crown. The endodontic dentist said something about the original dentist cracking my canal with allowed bacteria into the center of the tooth which caused the infection and that is why I always felt pain in that tooth. I feel that I should be reimbursed my $1,450.00 out of pocket expense to have his mistake corrected.

Question: Is he liable to pay for his mistake on my tooth, and can I force the endodontic dentist to testify what she told me that it was his fault?

>Moved from Dentistry<

I actually think this question belongs more on the legal board than Dentistry, perhaps a moderator will move it...

You may want to ask the 2nd dentist if she'd be willing to testify or provide an affidavit stating that she believed the other dentist was at fault for causing your troubles. The 1st dentist should have Malpractice Insurance to cover mishaps like this.

Have you asked your new dentist if she'd be willing to assist you?

I made a statement about it to the endodontic dentist while I was there about maybe trying to have the original dentist reimburse me for the new procedure cost and she said that it is worth shot, but a month ago and I left a message with her office staff and I wanted her to fax me a letter stating what condition my tooth was in and in her professional opinion, what caused the infection, but I did not receive a response. I just called a while before I posted my question and the staff member said she is not sure if the dentist will do that and asked me for the original dentist’s info. She Endo dentist is on vacation until Monday. That is why I was asking if she is require by law to make a statement on her professional position since she did treat me and no one else would know the condition of my tooth. I will send the question to legal. Thank you.

Your situation, and root canals in general, is not as clear cut as you describe. When the endodontic dentist said something about the original dentist "cracking your canal with allowed bacteria into the center of the tooth" which caused the infection and that is why you always felt pain in that tooth; that statement is not based on science. This is not the way that dental infections and pulpal activity occurs. Your description of the pain during the procedure sounds well within the realm of classic/normal for this type of infection; anesthesia can be impossible in the presence of infection and inflammation. It is unlikely that you will be awarded any financial reimbursement based on the information that you described. It all sounds very normal and routine; root canals are not fun but at least you have saved the tooth and can use it.

I understand that root canals are not fun; and that is why when I felt so much pain during and days and days after I did not think that it was caused by a mistake. However, the fact is that the canal was perferated during the original root canal; therefore it was done incorrectly which is the reason it had to be reconstructed. If the original dentist would have taken x-rays after finishing his work, he would have discovered that he perferated the canal and could have fixed it. He did not and 2 dentists said that from my x-rays they took, it was clear that it had been perferated during the original root canal which is what caused the infection. As for the medicine, I and my mother who worked in a dental office for many years, think that the reason I could feel everything during my filling, which was not infected, is that the medicine the dentist was using was expired and so it took like 5 shots for him to complete a regular filling. Both my grandfather and my aunt also had the same complaint about the pain meds not seeming to work well on them. I read that under the law, if I can prove that the originial doctor was negligent, like not taking x-rays to see if he perferated a root canal, he can be held responsible. I am not asking for anything except money That I am out of pocket on just the reconstruction of the work that was incorrectly done, why do you think that I will not be awarded that?