Oral Surgery Expert Witness Areas of Malpractice
Dr. Armond Kotikian provides expert witness services for a wide range of dental and medical topics. Included below are the most common topics on which his expertise is often sought; however, his field of expertise is far ranging and if your area of interest is not listed on this page, please contact him for a personal consultation to explore possibilities.
Tooth Extraction Complications
There are a variety complications that can arise from tooth extraction, but also include the extraction of the wrong teeth, which is the most common. The other most common complications include:
Wrong tooth extraction is most often the result of errors which occur during treatment, or miscommunication between clinicians which results in a wrong-site extraction.
Complications after having a tooth extraction occurs when a tooth extraction results in complications which are out of the ordinary, and result in medical conditions which themselves need to be addressed.
Wisdom tooth extraction complications which go beyond the expected side-effects include permanent nerve damage, mandibular fractures, or infections which can develop into life-threatening conditions.
Jaw fracture resulting from tooth extraction occurs from excessive pressure on bone surrounding the extraction site. It occurs more often in older patients who suffer from the osteoporosis of the jaw bone.
Nerve damage during oral surgery (i.e. lingual nerve and inferior alveolar nerve damage, dental nerve damage, dental nerve injury) most often occurs in the mandibular (inferior alveolar) or lingual nerve and can be the result of either the injection or the extraction itself.
Osteomyelitis of the jaw (the inflammation or infection of the bone marrow of the jaw bone) is usually the result of surgery on the third molar and can results in a chronic or acute bone marrow inflammation.
Injuries to adjacent structures resulting from procedures include displacement of teeth and root tips, soft tissue injuries, and oroantral communication (sinus communication).
Dental Implant Complications
Sinus lift (augmentation) & bone grafting complications or failure occur as a result of procedures which are generally a precursor to dental implants. It is performed to performed to add bone between the jaw and the maxillary sinuses to make room for implants.
Oral Pathology Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, as well as failure to diagnose cancerous lesions is another reason for dental malpractice lawsuits. Failure to diagnose oral cancer is unexpectedly common, and is one of the major causes of dental malpractice lawsuits.
Dental Anesthesia Complications
Complications from anesthesia can arise from the most simple procedure, but is more often caused by deep sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. Dental anesthesiology malpractice is one of the main causes of malpractice lawsuits.
Temporomandifular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction is the misalignment or lack of proper function of the jaw joint responsible for moving the lower jaw. TMJ dysfunction can result in myofascial and orofacial pain. These conditions can result from a variety of dental procedures.
Tooth and Salivary Gland Infection Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose
Tooth or salivary gland infections can lead to more serious complications, so the diagnosis of these conditions is crucial to maintaining oral health, as the infection, if left untreated, can spread.
Facial Trauma Complications
Facial trauma treatment complications which arise due to substandard treatment can lead to severe health issues beyond that which the initial trauma can cause. Such outcomes can lead to lawsuits against the healthcare provider. In turn providers and insurance companies require expert evaluation, aside from their own, to determine the validity of the mechanism of claimed injuries.
To get the expert witness services of Dr. Armond Kotikian, please complete the contact form to begin with a free initial consultation.
