A dental patient from the Greater Chicago area experienced one of the worst fears for anyone undergoing a surgical procedure.

The incident occurred in 2014, and it was recently reported by Kristine Guerra of the Washington Post in an article published by the Chicago Tribune:

Janus Pawlowicz was having root canal surgery [when] his dentist told him that she had dropped an instrument somewhere and couldn’t find it.

Eventually, the lost instrument was found inside the patient’s stomach. Surgeons extracted a sharp, two-inch long metal file used in endodontic procedures such as root canals.

As can be expected, the patient filed a medical malpractice lawsuit, which was eventually settled. As explained by the plaintiff’s attorney, the complaint indicated that the dentist should have used a dental dam that forms a barrier in front of the throat; this rubber piece prevents foreign objects from entering the patient.

At the Flikier Institute of Dental Rehabilitation, a clinic that specializes in treating dental tourists in Costa Rica, many of the procedures performed on patients are of a surgical nature. Most of the procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, which means that patients can go back to their hotel rooms to relax and recover before returning for a follow-up evaluation. Naturally, all surgical procedures that call for a dental dam will include it, but this is just one of the various safety measures.

Oral surgery procedures at the Flikier Institute in Costa Rica are performed by a team of specialists and assistants who always keep count of each and every single instrument, device and materials utilized. The initial count is determined before the procedure begins as the surgical kit is sterilized and prepped; this count is verified throughout the surgery. If at any time the instrument count is off, the surgical team will immediately determine the reason and take adequate action.

To learn more about dental tourism in Costa Rica, contact the Flikier Institute: