8 crowns, 4 root canals, 20 fillings: Patient sues dentist
A Minneapolis local is suing her Eden Prairie dentist for giving excessive treatment in a single visit in the US. Kathleen Wilson claims that during a single visit in July 2020, Dr. Kevin Molldrem of Molldrem Family Dentistry conducted four root canals, eight dental crowns, and 20 fillings, causing her significant pain and harm. Wilson is now seeking a minimum of $50,000 in damages.
Allegations of unsafe anesthesia dosage and falsified records
The lawsuit which was filed in Hennepin County District Court accuses Dr. Molldrem of administering an unsafe amount of anesthesia and falsifying medical records to hide it. Wilson alleges that she received 960 mg of anesthesia, almost double the safe limit of 490 mg. Additionally, the suit claims that the dentist's treatment was subpar and failed to address Wilson's vulnerability to dental disease.
Expert opinion supports patient's claims
Florida dentist Dr. Avrum Goldstein supports Wilson's claims, stating that completing such extensive dental work in one appointment is "impossible to achieve if ... done properly." Wilson's medical records were thoroughly examined by Goldstein, who found numerous instances of negligence. He pointed out that Wilson had decay on "virtually every tooth in her mouth," requiring a careful and gradual approach. Goldstein added that addressing 28 teeth in just 5½ hours was "inconceivable."
Consequences of negligent dental work and emotional trauma
Dr. Goldstein claimed that it is not only impractical but also impossible to properly complete such a large quantity of dental work in one visit. As a result of Dr. Molldrem's alleged negligence, Wilson says she experienced pain, disfigurement, embarrassment, and emotional distress. She sought follow-up care at the University of Minnesota Dental School to fix and replace many restorations in her mouth.
Wilson's vulnerability to illness was not addressed: Dr. Goldstein
Dr. Goldstein emphasized the emotional trauma linked to extensive dental treatments and noted that if Wilson's teeth needed to be removed and replaced with implants, all the effort and expenses would have been for nothing. He further states that Wilson's vulnerability to illness and the possibility of tooth loss were not addressed by Dr. Molldrem's attempt to replace every one of her teeth in a single session. Dr. Molldrem has not responded to the allegations yet.
