Dentist leaves drill bit in woman’s mouth
An oral surgeon who left part of his drill in a wound in a Florida woman’s mouth is being sued after she was left in constant pain for more than a year.
Donna Delgado, who had a drill bit burr, which is used to separate teeth, left in a wound, suffered for more than a year with oral and nasal bleeds, excruciating pain, dizziness and sinus infections.
Her lawyers are now seeking compensation from surgeon Ralph Eichstaedt, who left the inch-long steel burr in her wound after he removed two of her teeth.
Anthony Martino, Delgado’s lawyer, alleges that the burr was lost during surgery and that when Delgado, 35, went back to complain of her symptoms she was reportedly told that pain and bleeding was normal and to get over it.
An x-ray would have revealed that the lost burr was stuck in Delgado’s mouth.
She was eventually admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital on 13 July 2009 where staff detected the burr and referred her for more surgery.
Dr Dennis Agliano, ear-nose-and-throat specialist, finally removed the burr on 27 August 2009.
Martino is now calling for his client to be awarded a jury trial and unspecified damages.
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