Elizabeth Smith only wanted three teeth in her upper jaw removed. Oops! A dentist at a Florence, S.C., dental clinic pulled all 16 of her upper teeth -  by mistake.

A jury awarded the 28-year old woman a $2 million verdict.

Of course, she has trouble eating, covers her mouth when talking, and may be experiencing low self-esteem issues. Dental implants will cost  about $80,000, which the jury money will cover, in addition to the patient’s shock, embarrassment, and trauma.

The award consisted of $500,000 in actual damages and $1.5 million in punitive damages. The jury ordered Sexton Dental Clinic to pay most of the damages, and one of its dentists, Robert Scott, to pay the rest. This dental error is a rare occurrence and the clinic’s attorney says it’s considering an appeal. Really?

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com

My heart goes out to everyone suffering from periodontal disease, fear of tooth loss, the experience of tooth loss and denture gain, and the accompanying self-esteem issues.

When I had the experience there were no books written about it from a patient’s perspective, certainly not from a woman’s point of view. Nobody talked about it.

I was terrified while experiencing the dizzying vortex of periodontal hell with deep root planings and scalings, periodontal surgeries, bone grafts, and a bone transplant. I searched bookstores and libraries for information looking for someone to tell me how to live through it with my self-esteem intact.

Now I’m talking about it and you are not alone. You are welcome to post your questions, concerns, and comments here and begin your own support community. I swear, I’ve been there and I’ll be here with you.

What I know for sure is that it’s all connected.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com

Missing teeth can detract from your appearance, make chewing and speaking difficult, and place stress on your bite.

Missing teeth can cause your mouth to sink and your lips and cheeks to collapse.

Your chewing ability can decrease and your face can acquire more than normal aging lines and wrinkles. [Read more →]