This place is now called Akers Stohle & Murphy, Dr. M. Timothy Murphy having recently become a partner in this practice. And it was my misfortune to be referred to Murphy by my dentist for a tooth extraction and an implant. Every day stuff for most dental surgeons, right? Well, for me it turned into a three month ordeal of pain, illness and expense.
The critical issue in an implant is whether there is enough bone to set the post to later receive the false tooth. After a series of scans I was assured by Murphy that there was indeed enough bone to take the post. The issue of proximity to the sinus cavity was never discussed, though that later proved to be something I should have been made aware of.
The tooth extraction went fine. He placed the post. So far so good. Then I started getting headaches. Bad headaches and fever. As it turned out, he had breached the sinus cavity and an infection set in. I was given penicillin based antibiotics, which didn't do the trick. There was an accident - I bit into an olive pit, which dislodged the post. Went to see Murphy again. He removed the post and placed bone grafts to build up the area to receive the post again after healing took place. The headaches and fever continued. I went to see him yet again to get help for the serious sinus infection and debilitating headaches I was suffering from as a result of the procedure. At that time - my last face-to-face meeting with Murphy - I asked what he was going to do to provide me some relief. In reply, he simply shrugged his shoulders and offered the advice that maybe I "wasn't meant to have an implant." And... that was it. He showed an appalling lack of concern, and gave no help or hope for a further course of treatment. It was apparent that he couldn't get rid of me fast enough. So much for the Hippocratic Oath. So much for professional pride and care.
Shortly thereafter I received a letter from Murphy which "fired" me as his patient. The letter stated, "Our relationship seems to be missing the important elements of communication, trust and mutual understanding" and that it was his opinion that "my recommendations for your dental treatment are not being followed". That was pure nonsense. I'd done everything I'd been asked. The only recommendation of Murphy's I didn't follow was to keep paying his bills.
I saw a different implant specialist for an opinion. She examined me thoroughly and gave the opinion that there was insufficient bone under where Murphy attempted to place the implant and it never should have been attempted in the first place. This doctor also said it should have been apparent to Murphy from the x-rays and scans that the sinus cavity opening was too close to where the work was done and the chance of breaking into the cavity and causing an infection were too great to take the risk. But that's what Murphy did; he took the risk - with my health.
As a consequence, I suffered from chronic headaches and sinus problems for a month before, in an attempt to avoid surgery, an ENT doctor recommended Clindamycin - a very powerful antibiotic. Unfortunately, though the Clindamycin cured the sinus infection, it also wiped out all of the beneficial gut bacteria in my intestines, enabling opportunistic bacteria to take hold. As a result, I now have been diagnosed with colitis and C. diff., and am struggling to regain the good health I enjoyed prior to the unlucky day I walked into Murphy's office.
Murphy never should have performed that implant in the first place. Everything that has happened to me since has been the direct result of his incompetence and his unprofessional and brazen disregard for responsible caution with the health of his patients. Even all that might have been forgiven at some level - doctors are only human, everyone makes mistakes, etc. - but the worst part is, when push came to shove, he really didn't care at all. He had taken his shot with me and when things went wrong he just wanted to wash his hands of what had turned into an annoying problem. In my opinion this guy is nothing but a quack in a lab coat. And a shameful embarrassment to the medical profession.
There were other issues in this office; members of the staff did not know how to operate the equipment properly, their billing practices are overly aggressive, etc. But for me it was all about Dr. Murphy. If you are considering using him I cannot say this strongly enough - DO NOT let this man work on your teeth. read more
