Carol Russell British woman, victim of botched dental surgery. Country: Great Britain

Biography of Carol Russell

Carol Russell, a British woman, became the victim of a failed dental operation. The removal of wisdom teeth can often solve many problems, but unfortunately, the side effects of such a procedure can be even more horrifying than the reason for it. Carol Russell's story is a clear example of this.

For over five years, a burning and excruciating pain in her jaw and right side of her face plagued 46-year-old Carol Russell, making it difficult for her to live a normal life and interact with her loved ones. Even a simple kiss became unbearable for Carol. This painful ordeal was the result of an unsuccessful, yet seemingly trivial, dental operation. Six years ago, a dentist damaged Russell's inferior alveolar nerve, which caused these unpleasant symptoms. The pain haunted Carol constantly, making it difficult for her to eat, and any contact with her face turned into torture. Her daughter, son, and partner were unable to touch Carol, causing her not only physical but also emotional problems.

Attempts to alleviate the pain with special medications proved futile. Russell tried various pain relievers but none of them had a significant effect, even expensive ones. Only special patches that delivered pain relief directly through the skin provided some slight relief. However, even these patches only started to work after 12 hours of wearing them each day.

The ordinary operation to remove her wisdom teeth left Carol with excruciating pain. The wisdom teeth are traditionally the last teeth to appear in our mouths, usually between the ages of 18 and 22. Unfortunately, sometimes there is not enough space in the jaw for them to grow properly, causing the teeth to grow at odd angles. This can lead to various difficulties, such as the accumulation of food debris around the poorly positioned tooth. Slow development of infection, decay, and decomposition can be experienced years after the appearance of the tooth.

Wisdom tooth extraction is one of the most common dental surgeries, but this does not diminish the potential risks associated with it. A failed operation can result in infection, severe bleeding, or even nerve damage. That is why it is recommended to undergo such a procedure only when there are truly serious indications.

Carol's problems began with minor infections in the left side of her lower jaw. Her dentist recommended removing the wisdom tooth and referred her to a specialist. The operation itself went smoothly, but it quickly became apparent that it was not without side effects. Carol's face swelled significantly, and when the swelling subsided, she started experiencing severe bouts of pain. The doctors assured her that such post-operative symptoms were not uncommon and advised her to take more painkillers. Unfortunately, the situation did not improve.

Eighteen months after the operation, Carol received the devastating news that the damage incurred could not be reversed. It later became clear that the initial x-rays were insufficient, and a computerized tomography scan could have provided the necessary information to perform the extraction more carefully. However, by then, the damage had already been done.