A consumer court in Chennai found a dentist guilty of negligence after a 21-year-old patient undergoing orthodontic treatment preparation had the wrong tooth extracted. The case underscores how failure to follow a clearly communicated treatment plan and inadequate clinical documentation can expose dental practitioners to legal liability, even during routine extractions. The patient approached an online orthodontic service in early January 2025 to correct misaligned teeth.
As part of the process, she paid Rs 60,000 for scans and processing, which included doorstep scanning and verification. She was subsequently instructed to obtain dental X-rays at a nearby clinic to proceed further with treatment planning. After the X-rays were reviewed and approved, the orthodontic service advised her, both in writing and through WhatsApp messages, to extract milk tooth number 53 before braces could be…
