A patient has filed a lawsuit claiming that a dental hygienist at a practice in Missouri gave him an "unusually aggressive" dental cleaning that led to him spending two days in the hospital, according to a story recently published in the Springfield Daily Citizen.
John Abraham filed a dental malpractice lawsuit in the Greene County Circuit Court in Missouri against Dr. Richard Martens of Martens Family Dental Care in Springfield, MO, claiming that his cleaning caused him to need treatment for a periodontal abscess -- an infection in a gum pocket -- at the hospital. Additionally, Abraham accuses Martens of poor follow-up care, according to the story. Abraham is seeking at least $25,000 in damages.
In August, Abraham alleges that a dental hygienist at the practice gave him a "highly assertive, highly forceful" cleaning that injured his gums. A day after the dental cleaning, Abraham reportedly had painful gums that he said felt "inflamed" and caused discomfort when he talked and ate, according to the story.
About a week after the cleaning, Abraham returned to the dental practice. The patient claims that Martens told him he needed no further treatment beyond using mouthwash and taking antibiotics.
Four days later, Abraham claims his condition worsened, forcing him to go to an emergency room. There, Abraham purportedly was diagnosed with a lower jaw abscess and taken to the operating room to have it drained. After the abscess was drained, Abraham stated in the lawsuit that he spent two days in the hospital for treatment and observation, according to the story.
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