A routine dental cleaning turned into a medical nightmare for a Florida woman, leading to a lawsuit against her dentist and the dental practice. Scarlett N. Sterling and her husband, Beldon E. Sterling, filed a complaint on April 4, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, accusing Dr. Pamela Brandao and Brilliant Smiles Family Dental, P.A., of negligence.
The case centers around an incident that occurred on July 7, 2023, when Scarlett N. Sterling visited Brilliant Smiles for a routine dental cleaning performed by Dr. Pamela Brandao. According to the complaint, during the procedure, the removable insert/cleaning tip of an ultrasonic scaler device became dislodged and was swallowed by Mrs. Sterling. This led to emergency medical intervention at Delray Medical Center where it was discovered that the cleaning tip had lodged in her duodenum/small intestine. Dr. Sherman Chamberlain performed surgery to remove it.
The Sterlings allege that Dr. Brandao failed to meet professional standards by not ensuring that the dental equipment was properly assembled and maintained before use. The complaint states that "the standard of care requires: that the cleaning equipment be properly serviced" and accuses Dr. Brandao of failing to confirm this standard was met before using the equipment on Mrs. Sterling.
Furthermore, they accuse Brilliant Smiles Family Dental of negligence in training its staff and maintaining proper procedures for equipment safety checks. The plaintiffs argue that these failures contributed directly to Mrs. Sterling's injuries which include ongoing gastrointestinal issues such as abdominal pain and cramping due to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) caused by ingesting the cleaning tip.
As a result of these alleged negligent acts, Mrs. Sterling claims she has suffered permanent injuries requiring ongoing medical treatment and surgery while experiencing pain and mental anguish impacting her quality of life significantly.
The Sterlings are seeking damages exceeding $30,000 from both defendants for medical expenses incurred due to these injuries along with compensation for pain suffered by Mrs. Sterling herself as well as loss experienced by Mr.Sterling who claims loss of his wife's services comfort society attentions past future due defendant’s actions
Represented by attorney Joseph R.Johnson Esq., from Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA law firm located West Palm Beach FL; plaintiffs demand jury trial resolution matterJudge presiding over case identified through filing number 502025CA003231 XXXAMB.