Four signs of dental malpractice to watch for as a dental patient are the dentist’s improper use of unsterilized equipment, the inexcusable presence of expired medications, a dangerous disregard for proper procedure, and a failure to devote professional attention to the practice. While other indicators of negligence exist, these four signs were on display in a Reading, Pennsylvania case. Sometimes patient assertiveness must overrule our natural instincts to trust medical professionals. Learn to be your own best advocate. Question your dentist, dental hygienist and the dental office staff regarding procedures, equipment, and medications. When a dental professional puts a patient’s health at risk, the services of a legal professional may be necessary. Protecting patients’ rights and securing adequate compensation for pain, suffering and continued care are the responsibility of a good medical malpractice attorney. Dental malpractice is a serious threat to patient health. You need a serious medical malpractice attorney.
Four Signs
We all like to trust our dentist. Many patients rank their competent, trained dentist as somehow not on equal ranking with their internist, surgeon or optometrist. A dentist, though, has an enormous responsibility to follow best practices in patient care. Diseases of the mouth can affect the entire body.
Four distinct warning signs are seen in the offices of a Reading, Pennsylvania dentist point to the need for constant vigilance and self-advocacy:
- Unsterilized equipment — The Reading dentist neglected to dry his sterilized instruments, rendering them unsafe
- Expired medications — Health officials found medications two years past their expiration dates in the Reading dentist’s offices
- Unprofessional behavior — The Reading dentist was actually located in California, visiting only twice a month to see patients and run the practice
- Improper procedures — Health officials inspecting the Reading dentist’s offices found dead rodents and insects near the sterilization equipment
The Pennsylvania Department of Health considered the Reading case so bad, it recommended to patients that they seek to test for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. The Department found “infection control procedures at this practice were inadequate and created the potential for harm.”
