23 Teeth Extracted in One Session Leads to Fatal Heart Attack, Claims Family
CHINA – A resident of Yongkang City, Zhejiang Province named Ms. Shu has filed a complaint against DeWay Dental Clinic after her father, Huang, died from a heart attack 13 days after a procedure that involved extracting 23 teeth and implanting 12 new ones.
Ms. Shu said her father experienced severe mouth pain every day after the procedure. She provided proof, including a consent form, confirming that 23 teeth were removed and 12 new ones were implanted in one session. The procedure also involved making 12 new holes in his jaw. Once the anesthesia wore off, Huang’s pain worsened significantly.
A spokesperson for DeWay Dental Clinic said that while removing 23 teeth at once might seem extreme, the decision was made based on a dentist’s consultation and the patient’s condition. Normally, front teeth can be removed and replaced the same day, but molars usually need a few months between removal and replacement. The consent form showed that some molars were removed and replaced during the same session, which is not usual practice for the clinic.
Dr. Yuan, who performed the extractions, has five years of experience and focuses on root canals, wisdom teeth removal, and dentures. However, Xiang Guolin from Wuhan Fourth Hospital’s Oral Medicine Center said removing many teeth increases pain and the chance of infection. Although there are no strict rules on how many teeth can be removed at once, 23 is considered too many. Usually, an adult has 28 to 32 teeth, and 10 to 12 is the recommended maximum to remove in one session.
The investigation into Huang’s death is still ongoing. The Municipal Health Bureau noted that it is difficult to link the extractions directly to Huang’s death due to the time gap. The DeWay Dental Clinic is a private, for-profit facility specializing in dental implants and endodontics.
