DEADLY DENTISTS

One of my dental hygienists recently informed me of a new series on the Investigation Discovery cable channel called “Deadly Dentists”. Apparently there are enough stories out there about dentists to make a series.

I looked the series up online and despite my pre-conceived notion about what the content would be, the first episode is about a dentist who is killed by his wife’s boyfriend. I’ll probably stick to watching the Bruins and hope I am never in an episode.

However, the title of the series did remind me about stories of people dying in the dental office and how important it is to be ready for medical emergencies. A couple years ago I remember a dentist who was charged in the death of a patient in Connecticut after 20 extractions and implants placed in the same visit. The patient was sedated by a method many dentists (general and specialists) use called conscious sedation. It is a very safe method of sedation that usually combines a couple of different oral medications. Since respiration can be affected with conscious sedation, it is vital to measure oxygen saturation and have the proper equipment and plan in place in case of an emergency.

It took a year for the charges to be filed against the dentist. Apparently, the Connecticut State Dental Commission initially found that the dentist was practicing within the standard of care and didn’t immediately revoke his license. The allegations now are that the dentist ignored warning signs of the patient and also ignored warnings from staff members to continue on with treatment.

Most people cannot fathom having 20 teeth pulled and implants placed all at one visit. However, it is a relatively common procedure and the service is growing. So, in case you were wondering whether the dentist was doing too much at one time, the answer is that it depends who you are doing it on.

“The commission also found that [the dentist] should not have attempted to perform so many procedures on [the patient] in one office visit given that her medical history included a heart attack six months before the visit, two strokes within the last two years and medication that could have affected her response to the sedation.”

Do we assume the dentist knew about all these circumstances that made this patient a high risk to treat? Let’s assume the patient divulged all necessary medical information. It is up to the dentist to decide whether to treat or refer to a specialist that can provide more options for sedation and monitoring of vitals. It is essential for the provider and the patient to go over medical history and concerns in detail. The best interest of the patient should be the forefront of that discussion.

This same dentist also allegedly violated care standards a year before when another patient under conscious sedation to have teeth extracted inhaled a piece of gauze that was intended to prevent things from going down the throat. The patient was rushed to the hospital and recovered.

Both of these situations are unfortunate. Many people were affected and one life was lost. While it is impossible to determine a definitive decision based on the information available, it will be important for the dentist to show proper planning and reaction to incidents.

Medical histories are very important. Make sure to report all information, including any medications and supplements. And, if you are a medically compromised person and need significant dental surgery, consider a specialist.