Compensation for Women After Swallowing Drill Bit During Dental Procedure

Dental Opertation Negligence

30/06/2008

A Blackburn woman has received over £6000 compensation after the drill bit being used in her dental operation came loose, resulting in her swallowing it.

In June 2005 Mrs Coyle attended her dental practice for a repair filling. During the procedure, the drill bit, a flame-shaped friction grip finishing burr, fell out of the dental hand-piece and was swallowed by Mrs Coyle. Mrs Coyle attended the hospital where she underwent numerous tests and invasive investigations, including a surgical laparotomy, to try and remove the foreign body. Mrs Coyle finally passed the burr naturally in July 2005 and the hospital discharged her.

The claim was settled in June 2008 by Zoe Brodrick of Irwin Mitchell's specialist Medical Negligence Team. She said, "In this case, the dentist was negligent in failing to ensure that the burr was correctly attached to the hand-piece before starting treatment. Furthermore, the dentist failed to appreciate the seriousness of the incident and did not prepare a detailed report in relation to the incident. All medical professionals should ensure that the wellbeing of their patients is of the utmost importance and that they take any mistakes seriously."