A Virginia woman was awarded $1 million in damages after an oral surgeon extracted teeth without her consent, The Winchester Star reported May 28.
Christine Frey was referred by her dentist in July 2022 to Winchester (Va.) Oral Surgery Center for the extraction of 12 lower teeth, the removal of mandibular tori and placement of implants on two teeth for overdentures.
After removing two lower teeth in an initial procedure, Ms. Frey went back for a second procedure in January 2023 and consented to the removal of the remaining 10 lower teeth and mandibular tori, and to the implants.
After awaking from the procedure, her surgeon, Eric Starley, DMD, informed her that in addition to the 10 lower teeth outlined in the consent form, he extracted nine upper teeth, to which Ms. Frey did not consent.
Dr. Starley's attorney said the oral surgeon misheard Ms. Frey and that the extraction of the upper teeth was a mistake.
Ms. Frey had sought $6 million in compensatory damages for malpractice and $1 million in punitive damages. The jury reached its verdict May 23.