Problem during root canal led to extreme pain, suit says

A woman has filed suit against her dentist, alleging a file separation occurred during a root canal, causing her extreme pain.

Amanda Markel claims Dr. Anna Smith of Dentistry with TLC performed a root canal on Nov. 20, 2007. During the procedure, a file separation occurred, according to the complaint filed Jan. 4 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Not until recently did Markel discover that the extreme pain she has experienced since the surgery was due to the file separation, the suit states.

Because of the file separation, Markel's root canal and surrounding area became infected and painful and she experienced permanent pain, mental anguish and disfigurement, the complaint says. In addition, she claims she incurred medical costs, lost wages and could not attend to her usual duties and affairs.

Smith negligently failed to explain the root canal procedure, failed to timely inform Markel that a file had separated and remained lodged in her root canal, failed to properly chart that a file separated, performed unnecessary dental procedures and failed to properly treat Markel's subsequent dental procedures, according to the complaint.

In her three-count complaint, Markel is seeking a judgment of more than $225,000, plus costs.

Samantha S. Unsell of the Thomas Q. Keefe Jr. firm in Belleville will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-2.