My husband went to the dentist on friday for a toothache. We thought they'd give some antibiotics, schedule another appointment, then send him on his way.

Instead, the dentist decided to extract his tooth because it was too decayed.
During the extraction it became apparent that there was a problem. The roots were imbedded into the sinus cavity.

While trying to carefully take the tooth out, a firly large section of the floor of the sinus cavity came out with the tooth! It is about the size of a quarter or half dollar.

Then they couldn't control the bleeding. They used 10 feet of sutures for the stitches!!! The next thing that happened was his blood pressure skyrocketed to 189/138, which is close to stroke. They gave him five different doses of nitroglycerin sublingually over about 25 minutes time.

All in all the short appointment lasted six hours! He is in major pain, on Percocet, and may be in danger of never being able to play his trumpet again. He was supposed to play for the next several weeks, but obviously that is lost.

He is on a liquid diet and will be for a while longer.

We are really hoping and praying for the tissues to be healthy and "net together" which will lay the base for the bone to regenerate. Otherwise he will have to have bone grafts.

You know, I actually wouldn't mind having a boring life for awhile, I'm kind of tired of the constant turmoil!! Some lucky people get to have regular lives, but not us! It seems that it's one thing after another!

All this from a simple toothache!

ooohhh....that's horrible.
all of that from just a simple toothache?
i really hope he gets well.

Oh kippsix! I am so sorry to hear that. My heart goes out to you and your husband and of course you guys will be in my prayers. How aweful! Please tell you husband that we are all rooting for him. Remember, God never give us more then we can handle, but sometimes I wonder about that myself at times.

I am so sorry to learn of this. We all hope things turn out well for you and your husband.

It is a horror story indeed. I am so sorry!

I hope everything will be OK in a short time.

Maybe it is too soon to comment as follows, but I think you should be aware from now, that the dentist must be covered by an insurance and that it should cover the effects of the treatment on your husband's professional activity and career, as well as all additional treatments such as bone grafts or surgery.

In my personal opinion, attempting to extract an aching tooth without previous and effective treatment with antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory drugs could be dangerous.

Also, an extraction is normally decided after a clear radiography is obtained and professionally evaluated (dentist are normally trained for those evaluations). Failure to proceed according to the protocols could imply a medical bad practise.

Even if the radio was taken, then it was wrongly evaluated and it brings to the same argument of medical error or bad practise.

I suggest you search legal advise on this subject, very soon..

Really sorry to come with this kind of comments now, but if there is any action to be taken you cannot lose time. Otherwise the medical situation may change and it could be difficult to prove later allegations against the dentist.

I wish the best luck and a prompt recovery for your husband.

I am very sorry to hear that Kippsix!! I hope he makes a full recovery. On the bright side...you don't have to hear a loud trumpet for a while! But seriously, who was doing the pulling? Where did they go to school? I would check into this. Was it their fault? Or does your husband have a sensitized Sinus area (allergies and whatnot)?

-Dennis

kippsix,
yes,what happened to those dentists?
we are all hoping that he would recover soon.
i know you and your husband will get over it.
best of luck to his recovery.

Good grief Kipp. I hope he gets well soon, and certainly hope his ability to play an instrument is not impeded by the neglience of that dentist. I sincerely hope everything goes well for him. I'll cross my fingers for you both.

Dennis- despite my deep concerns, I secretly had the same fleeting thought about not hearing a loud trumpet for awhile (who said that? :O). However, he does use the practice mute that I bought him last Christmas.

The x-ray did not show the extent of the invasion into the sinus cavity because the roots curled back over, kind of like a staple does when you staple paper. He does have a significant history of sinus infection due to Valley Fever (a disease caused by a fungus found in a few parts of the world, the Sonoran Desert being one of those places .
I hate the thought sueing. His medical care is well covered, and I'm sure there will not be any additional medical costs for us. In hindsight, I think we can say that an oral surgeon would have been a better route, but the oral surgeon that was called in during/after the fact said that it would have happened anyway.
Who knows.....but he is feeling a tad bit better today, getting up and about.
He looks crazy with the lopsided swelling!
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

I am very sorry, but, similar to what Kara said, we will never get any challenge in life that is not too tough. I feel so bad and I wish your husband a painless recovery. We will be here for you, kippsix!

"less inclined to be litigious"

I would not like to appear here as litigant prone. I hate dealing with lawyers and carefully avoid it whenever possible (which comes to be almost always).

I just understood from the original kippsix post that the medical problem or accident was preventing her husband to play for several coming weeks (perhaps forcing a cancellation of contracts or something similar). Those financial losses are not covered by medical insurances, I guess. That is why I made my suggestion to seek legal advise (not necessarily to sue anybody).

oh my!!!! i will pray for your husbands full recovery

I don't think that is the best of advice, Lera. I think that at least once a year going to the dentist just for a check up and a good cleaning is always a good idea.

Well, he's progressing slowly. I took him to an Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon to take over his care. It looks like it will be a long healing process. There will probably have to be grafts done. He is really struggling with not playing his trumpet. Hopefully after three to four months things will be good enough for him to start playing again. Thanks for all your thoughts and advice.

Oh, sorry Lera, I guess I just have trouble reading your posts. My mistake.