A Hillsborough County resident has filed a lawsuit against a local dentist and his practice, alleging severe negligence in dental care that led to prolonged pain and suffering. Robert O'Connor lodged the complaint in the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, on July 1, 2024, targeting Dr. Remal Patel and Modern Day Smiles Dentistry.
According to the court documents, O'Connor began treatment with Dr. Patel and Modern Day Smiles Dentistry on October 28, 2021. This treatment plan included the extraction of 21 teeth on December 14, 2021. Following this procedure, O'Connor experienced "excruciating pain and discomfort" in his lower right jaw area for several months. Despite multiple attempts to seek answers from Dr. Patel and the dental practice, no satisfactory explanation or relief was provided.
The complaint reveals that almost a year later, on October 18, 2022, another dentist discovered retained root tips of teeth numbers 28 and 29 during an examination. These root tips had not been fully removed during the initial extractions performed by Dr. Patel. The retained root tips were subsequently removed by the new dentist on that day.
O'Connor's attorney asserts that a reasonable investigation has been conducted under Sections 766.104, 766.106, 766.203, and 766.28 of Florida Statutes to establish grounds for a good faith belief in negligence by Dr. Patel and Modern Day Smiles Dentistry. The lawsuit claims that Dr. Patel failed to exercise reasonable care in several ways: not fully removing teeth numbers 28 and 29 during the extractions; failing to perform post-surgical x-rays; neglecting to check all extracted teeth physically; and inadequately evaluating O'Connor when he sought further medical attention.
As a result of these alleged negligent actions, O'Connor claims he suffered bodily injury leading to ongoing pain and suffering, disability, scarring, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, as well as expenses related to hospitalization and medical care.
The plaintiff is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 from both Dr. Patel and Modern Day Smiles Dentistry along with a trial by jury.
Representing Robert O’Connor is Steven J. Zaloudek from Maney | Gordon Trial Lawyers based in Tampa, Florida.