Mom's dentist may be a threat to patients

Posted by woojr @woojr, May 10 3:19pm

My 95 year old mother was treated by her aging dentist recently. He installed a bridge from 20-22. It took four visits and over six hours in the chair. She claims she told him to extract the bad tooth but he went to work drilling. A week after she finished treatment, she began to experience discomfort in the area he worked. I brought her to the dentist and he gave her a script for an antibiotic and pain meds. Also a script to see a endontist. We left and drove to the pharmacy were I looked at the scripts to be sure they weren't anything she may be allergic. While there were many problems with the work he did (we found out later), I was shocked to see the script for pain was 7.5-325 Hydrocodone. Mom is 103 lbs soaking wet in pretty good health. I'm familiar with these pain meds since I've been taking Oxycodone for many years for post operative spine surgery problems. We didn't fill the script, she was doing well with Tylenol and said she told him so. My belief was he gave her a potentially lethal dosage. I won't go into the terrible work he did on the bridge which had to be extracted yesterday. It was infected with both teeth being cracked. Here's my question, who can I report this man to before he kills someone? I'm in NJ.

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gloaming | @gloaming | May 10 4:18pm

College of dental surgeons. Or something close to that name. Be kind, but be firm, with evidence if they ask you to share private information.

Scott R L | @scottrl | May 10 8:15pm

Is there a state board of medical/dental licensing/certification in New Jersey?

ZeeGee | @fourof5zs | May 11 4:33am

@woojr

At the following link at #4 in their writing is a link to a form to fill out: https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/den/Pages/consumersFAQ.aspx

lizziel1 | @lizziel1 | May 11 11:59am

Wow, I’m surprised with all the controversy with opiates that she was even prescribed them. I’m only on two 5/325 a day for excruciating pain conditions.
If you have concerns with the dentist, contact your state dental society to ask if they have a process called peer review.

woojr | @woojr | May 11 1:38pm

Thank you for the link. As for evidence, I have the script. If need be, the dentist who extracted the teeth has the X-rays and her file. I still can't believe someone would prescribe that big a dosage to her. As I've been helping mom with her medical issues I've learned a lot about how aging people wear down and how their providers view age as a factor. Mom had the two teeth removed two days ago. During the six or so weeks she was being treated, she was scammed. She lost touch with whom to trust and lost $5000 but I was able to stop payment on close to $40,000 she tried to transfer to the scammers. She was very difficult to communicate with and made me the bad guy. She denied the bank persons, the police and the actual people from Publisher's Clearing House (the subject of the scam). Now here's the kicker. Yesterday she began to act differently. Her gum is healing quickly and she's much nicer. I have a much broader respect for how a dental infection can affect us. I just changed my dentist to the fellow who just treated mom. He was patient, explained every part of the X-rays, and went on to show her she has three cavities next to the teeth he extracted. She needs a cleaning and complete examination. Her previous dentist completely missed the cavities and apparently ignored her request to remove 20 & 22, and put crowns on them and bridged 21. It was a lot of time in the chair for a 95 year old woman. Did it have an effect on her thinking when she was being scammed? I can only say I don't believe it helped. Two years ago mom had a UTI. I didn't know it until she told me she wasn't feeling well and I visited her to find her claiming her PT was causing the back pain she was experiencing. I pried her for more and she finally told me the rest of the symptoms so I took her to the ER where she immediately was put on antibiotics. After six weeks in rehab she was great. It's not easy to get older folks to tell the whole story. They don't want to go to the hospital. It's easy to dismiss forgetfulness or not understanding as aging. Infections can cause different symptoms.

I just found out today my cousin's father in law fell yesterday. Apparently he passed out, broke an ankle and wasn't breathing. He ended up in the hospital and got a pacemaker. He's very confused. I've heard so many stories about falls but later there's information that the fall was the result of a medical situation not the other way round. In this case a history of blood pressure irregularity may be connected.

gracie71 | @gracie71 | May 12 10:18am

I am so sorry for your mother. No one should have to endure this. I speak from experience when an endodontist damaged my trigeminal nerve, leaving me with permanent nerve damage.

Gather up all of your Mother's dental records in DETAIL. Everything. Report it to your state's dental board that governs dentists. Get a lawyer.

And watch after your mother carefully as it sounds like you are doing. There are too many bad dentists with no sense of accountability.

elisabeth007 | @elisabeth007 | May 12 12:13pm

how about getting a good dentist to take care of your mom now.... in addition to reporting the problematic dentist

elisabeth007 | @elisabeth007 | May 12 12:20pm

When my fathher was elderly, i went with him to help him. Your presence during visits could potentially prevent any similar situations. i believe elderly people get the best care with an advocate (eg adult child) present' i am so grateful i was able to frequently present for my Dad when he needed it most.

woojr | @woojr | May 13 11:31am

In response to the above comments. Mom has agreed to have me take control of her dental work. She is doing great. I just got off the phone with her. She called to tell me she's going to PT, she's feeling she needs her legs moved. I looked into her mouth yesterday at our Mother's Day gathering and it is healing incredibly fast.

We have enlisted the new dentist who has been very transparent and sharing everything about her status. She needs to completely heal before she gets the complete cleaning and X-rays. We know she has at least three large cavities that are next to the teeth that were extracted. It wouldn't surprise me that there are more issues.

So, we have a dentist we trust. I'm concerned about the past but to be frank, I'm no spring chicken and I'm just getting her scam financial situation under control. I've been involved with police and others in her investments for months and I'm tired. I haven't told her whole story. She has spending addictions and is very gullible. It's not limited to just buying stuff, it's donating to anyone with her addresses. What I'm saying is she's become a full time job without starting lawsuits.

I think I am going to contact the bad dentist to see what his reaction is to what has transpired. Then contact consumers affairs.

I only wonder how many older folks are killed by these kind of actions? You know it's always the same when I take her to providers, sweet young ladies make a fuss over her and create this trusting atmosphere making it harder for her to ask questions or in this case, not even call back after being in pain for days or even longer. Well, it's not like that anymore with me in the process.

gloaming | @gloaming | May 13 5:35pm

It's a sad fact that many of today's elderly are easily scammed by people who make millions a year (they don't, mostly, but the people who hire them do). It's a sad fact, too, that many of their children have no interest in their parents after they get married and have careers. The unpleasant surprises that take place, with wills revealed and findings of negligence or simple-mindedness bleeding away thousands of dollars that could have gone to grandchildren's education.