James Campbell handled a case involving a dental patient who suffered severe injuries after material used during a dental procedure was inadvertently swallowed and went undetected.

The material traveled into the gastrointestinal tract, where it ultimately became lodged and caused an intestinal obstruction. The patient developed serious complications, including infection and sepsis, and was left with ongoing gastrointestinal problems.

Like all medical negligence cases, we prosecuted the case with a multidisciplinary team of highly qualified experts, including prosthodontists, gastrointestinal surgeons, and life care planners. These experts helped establish the appropriate standards for dental care, explain how the foreign material caused the patient's intestinal injuries, and evaluate the nature and extent of the patient's future medical and care needs.

The case raised important patient-safety issues concerning precautions used to prevent dental materials from being swallowed or aspirated, as well as the need to recognize when such an event has occurred. When material is unaccounted for during a dental procedure, determining whether it has been swallowed or aspirated can be critical. Depending on the circumstances, prompt evaluation and imaging may prevent a relatively manageable event from developing into a medical emergency.

Cases involving serious dental injuries frequently require expertise extending well beyond dentistry. Our approach is to assemble the medical and other experts necessary to understand not only how an injury occurred, but also its consequences for the patient and the care the patient may require in the future.

Because of our obligations to our clients, we do not disclose identifying information or confidential details concerning the resolution of this case.

This article is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute medical or legal advice.