Dentist demands jury trial in suit alleging patient went months without teeth

A dentist and his practice demand a trial by jury in a lawsuit alleging a patient went months without teeth when her dentist failed to properly install implants.

According to the Jan. 23 lawsuit, Deborah Wilson claims she sought dental implants to correct the appearance and function of her teeth. She hired defendant Dr. Jeffrey Naylor for the procedure. On Jan. 23, 2013, Naylor removed her teeth and installed the base rods for the dental implants, the suit states.

Wilson claims the new implants were supposed to be screwed into the base rods by Dr. Harold Bean. However, after her teeth were removed, the plaintiff claims Bean informed her that he could not fully complete the implant procedure because she had insufficient bone density that would not allow the implants and dentures to set properly.

Wilson alleges she was told she needed to wait several months before the procedure could be completed. Additionally, she claims she was told that the base rods had not been installed correctly and she would be forced to undergo additional correction surgery.

“The plaintiff had to endure several months without teeth and suffered tremendous pain, expense and mental anguish from her appearance,” the suit states.

Wilson accuses Naylor and Naylor Periodontics of negligence. She seeks more than $100,000, plus attorney’s fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.

On March 10, the defendants entered their appearance and demanded a jury trial through attorney Matthew C. Zittel of Neville, Richards & Wuller in Belleville.

Circuit Judge Dennis Ruth presides over the case.

Lloyd M. Cueto of the Law Office of Lloyd M. Cueto in Belleville represents Wilson.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 15-L-87