General Dentistry Experts Opine on Failure to Diagnose Gum Disease

Case Overview

This case involves a failure to diagnose periodontal disease over an extended period of time. The defendant is a retired dentist who had previously provided dental care to the plaintiff for over 2 decades in New Hampshire. The patient stopped treatment with the defendant when defendant retired, and was then seen by a new dentist that the defendant recommended. The new dentist was surprised by the poor condition of the patient’s teeth and indicated evidence of periodontal decay dating back nearly 15 years. As a result, the plaintiff had to have a number of invasive treatments, including a root canal and the removal of several teeth.

Questions to the Dentistry expert and their responses

Are you able to review the case and evidence of the periodontal decay?

That said, it is always the dentist's responsibility to diagnose and recommend treatment when maladies become apparent.

Do you have extensive experience treating patients who have periodontal decay?

I have 44 years of experience as a general dentist and treat patients with periodontal disease every day. I have maintained my expertise in the field over the years with extensive periodontal training.

Have you ever had a patient develop the outcome noted above?

I lecture on general dentistry in an educational setting and periodontal issues do arise; that said, I do not expect to have taught anything that would justify the defendant's inaction.

About the expert

This expert is a general dental practitioner with over 40 years of experience in root canals, oral disease therapy, and extractions. He is also a member of such prestigious medical societies as the American Dental Association and the International Congress of Oral Implantology, and is the current general dentist at a major dental private practice.