EDWARDSVILLE -- A dental patient claims she lost a tooth and suffered infection down to the bone after a permanent crown was placed on an incomplete root canal.
Alexa Kincade filed a lawsuit on Dec. 1 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Woody Soonattrakul, D.D.S. and Wood River Family Dental.
According to the suit, Kincade saw Soonattrakul for a dental exam and treatment on March 27, 2012. She was referred to Dr. Etchinson for an evaluation of tooth 14 on April 9, 2012. Etchinson began a root canal and placed a temporary crown on the tooth. Kincade returned to Soonattrakul, where another crown was placed on the tooth after the defendants told her the root canal had been completed. Kincade claims she returned to Soonattrakul seven times with issues regarding the tooth. Believing the root canal was complete, she did not follow up with Etchinson from April 2012 through January 2016.
On Feb. 7, 2013, she began going to Brinley Orthopedics for braces. Soonattrakul placed a permanent crown on the tooth at issue on April 22, 2013.
Then on Jan. 12, 2016, Brinley Orthopedics performed a panoramic x-ray, which showed a large mass in the "UL, posterior quad." Kincade was referred to Etchinson for treatment.
On Jan. 20, 2016, Kincade returned to Etchinson, complaining of pain when chewing on the left side. She claims her cheek was hard and tender on the left side. She was placed on an antibiotic and advised that the root canal had not been completed prior to the build up and the crown being permanently placed. Etchinson continued to treat the plaintiff until Feb. 16, 2017, when it was determined that the tooth was unrestorable.
Kincade saw Dr. Woody at Hometown Dental on Feb. 20, 2017, where the tooth was extracted.
On Sept. 5, 2017, Dr. Hagen found infection in the bone where the tooth was extracted.
Kincade claims she was caused to endure pain and suffering, infection and additional surgeries as a result of Soonattrakul's negligence.
She alleges the defendants failed to properly communicate with Etchinson's office, misinformed Kincade that the root canal was complete, placed a permanent crown when the root canal was incomplete and placed a core build up on her tooth.
Kincade seeks a judgment for an amount in excess of $50,000, plus cost of suit. She is represented by Keith Short of Keith Short & Associates PC in Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-001441