Osteomyelitis Bone Infections Due to Dental Malpractice
Dental procedures like full mouth reconstruction, dental implants and jaw surgery all may require a dentist or oral surgeon to make incisions into the jaw or other bones. One of the risks of any type of bone surgery is osteomyelitis. This is a severe bone infection that can cause serious health risks, including bone loss and spread of infection to the rest of the body. In some cases, osteomyelitis that occurs after oral surgery may have been caused by dental negligence and the misdiagnosis of the symptoms can also be dental malpractice.
Causes and Symptoms of Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis occurs when a bone is infected by bacteria, usually during a surgery. For this infection to occur, the bacteria must have access to the bone, either through an incision or through the bloodstream. In dental surgeries, like wisdom tooth removal or dental implants, the jaw bone may be exposed, and bacteria can enter through the surgical site. Proper sterilization of surgical tools and hardware used for the surgeries can prevent infections and prescribing antibiotics after the surgery can also stop infections from occurring. Symptoms of osteomyelitis include:
- Bone (jaw or mouth) pain
- Fever
- Swelling or redness in the surgical area
Dentists who perform oral surgeries should be following standard procedures to prevent infection and advise their patients of the symptoms of possible infection. They should also be aware of the signs and diagnose the condition if it is present when the patient returns for follow-up exams. If caught early, osteomyelitis can be treated effectively with antibiotics. If it is allowed to progress, serious illness and possibly the need for bone removal to stop the infection may occur.
If you or a loved one have had osteomyelitis after dental surgery that was not diagnosed or could have been prevented, you may be a victim of dental malpractice. Contact our team at Moriarty Injury Lawyer for a free consultation to discuss your case and possible lawsuit options for compensation.