A consumer court in Chennai has held a private dental clinic guilty of medical negligence for extracting a permanent tooth instead of a milk tooth during preparatory treatment for orthodontic braces, ordering compensation to a 21-year-old woman who suffered irreversible harm.
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chennai North ruled that the dentist failed to justify deviation from a clearly documented treatment plan and acted without adequate clinical evidence.
Wrong tooth removed despite clear instructions
The complainant, N Gayathri (21), a resident of Arumbakkam, approached Toothsi in January 2025 for correction of misaligned teeth. She paid ₹60,000 towards scans and processing for orthodontic treatment.
After reviewing X-rays and scans, Toothsi advised her — both in writing and through WhatsApp messages — to extract a specific milk tooth, identified as tooth number 53, as part of the preparatory process before braces.
Acting on this advice, Gayathri visited Oyster Dental Care in Anna Nagar on February 3, 2025. The clinic charged ₹800 and carried out the extraction.
Shocking discovery months later
However, when Gayathri returned in April 2025 to proceed with the orthodontic braces, she was informed that a permanent tooth had been extracted instead of the milk tooth. The revelation left her distressed, as the loss of a permanent tooth cannot be reversed and may have long-term dental and cosmetic consequences.
The dentist defended the action by claiming that the removed tooth was a palatally placed permanent lateral incisor that was causing discomfort. He further argued that the reference to a milk tooth in the prescription was merely a preliminary note of the patient’s complaint.
Commission rejects dentist’s defence
The Consumer Commission rejected this explanation, noting that the dentist failed to produce any clinical records, diagnostic notes or justification supporting the decision to extract a tooth other than the one explicitly mentioned in the treatment plan.
The Commission observed that deviation from a prescribed medical plan without proper documentation or informed consent amounted to clear medical negligence.
Compensation ordered
Holding the clinic liable, the Commission directed the dentist to pay ₹2 lakh as compensation to the complainant for the physical and mental trauma caused, along with ₹5,000 towards litigation costs.
The ruling underscores the importance of strict adherence to treatment plans, clear documentation and informed consent in medical and dental procedures, especially when irreversible outcomes are involved.