Plaintiff claims dentist over-prepared teeth – Confidential Settlement

Plaintiff began treating with defendant dentist in 2010.  Defendant dentist offered to repair plaintiff’s teeth through the placement of crowns. Plaintiff agreed to the proposed dental work, which included the placement of temporary teeth, as well as two sub gingiva implants, and would ultimately be followed by the placement of permanent crowns. The temporary crowns, once placed, became loose and/or fell out 20 times, required replacement by the defendant as well as by dentists in California and North Carolina.

Eight months after the temporary teeth had been placed, the defendant had still not placed the permanent crowns, although plaintiff had personally delivered the permanent crowns to the defendant. Upon inquiry by the plaintiff at this time, the defendant told the plaintiff that he did not know where the permanent crowns were. As a result, the plaintiff sought care from another dentist, who redid the permanent crowns and finally placed them for the plaintiff.

The plaintiff’s expert was prepared to testify that the teeth preparation done by the defendant was beneath the standard of care, resulting in teeth that were over-prepared, increasing the likelihood that the permanent crowns would need early replacement.
The defendant’s expert was prepared to testify that the work performed by the defendant met the standard of care in all aspects, and that although it was excessive for the temporary crowns to fall out over 19 times, this was not a violation of the standard of care.

The case settled two days before trial.

[13-T-137]

Type of action: Dental malpractice
Injuries alleged: Over-prepared teeth, which compromised integrity for crowns ultimately placed
Verdict or settlement: Settlement
Amount: Confidential
Attorneys for plaintiff: Mark J. Favaloro and Kevin M. Duffan, Virginia Beach
Plaintiff’s expert: Christopher Hooper, D.D.S.