Years of Avoidable Harm--Tooth Loss, Jaw Injury, and Dismissive Care…read more
This office's pattern of poor communication and high-pressure tactics has lessened the quality of my life as well as cost me thousands of dollars for visits and night guards.
In late October/early November 2019, I had an apicoectomy on tooth #9 with John D. Wells, DDS at 16600 Birkdale Commons Parkway, Huntersville, NC 28078. I followed all aftercare to the letter, rinsing faithfully with the prescribed cleanser.
After the first procedure, I started feeling pain and discomfort in the tooth area after drinking cool water, so I contacted the office right away. Dr. Wells had me come back for him to take a look. He then determined he needed to redo the apicoectomy. Afterward, I asked what the problem was, and he explained that the dissolvable sutures from the initial surgery hadn't dissolved, so he removed them manually. He assured me healing was on track, but by early 2020, persistent infection forced me to need an extraction and an implant, which was both costly and heartbreaking, especially at my age for a front tooth. I was 80 years old going through all of this.
I was never told about the threat of infection, and only learned later that undissolved sutures can trap bacteria and lead to failures like this; and that dentists should proactively remove them themselves to avoid such risks. Had I known, I might have pushed for that upfront or chosen differently--but trusting the process, I returned to the same practice in 2022 for a root canal on tooth #8. That's when things worsened dramatically.
During packing placement, the assistant demanded I open my mouth much wider to keep it dry, using scare tactics: she warned that if I didn't, "it would have to be redone." Again, I am an older patient, and it was very clear this assistant dd not care about me as a patient, and had no interest in a reasonable bedside manner. Fresh off the 2019 trauma, I felt pressured and complied to open as wide as possible, despite visible distress in my eyes, as she took her time. The strain immediately triggered pain and discomfort, and I was soon diagnosed with a displaced TMJ disc--causing relentless muscle spasms, a sensation like my jaw is off its hinge, difficulty speaking, and chronic agony requiring therapy and meds.
After contacting Dr. Wells numerous times with my distress and concerns, he dismissed them outright, claiming the assistant "didn't force my mouth open or threaten me with a gun." No empathy, no accountability--just deflection. As I said before, this office's pattern of poor communication (e.g., not warning about dissolvable suture risks) and high-pressure tactics has lessened the quality of my life as well as cost me thousands of dollars for visits and night guards.
The initial staff seemed friendly, but the care felt reactive at best. If you're reading this, ask upfront about materials and removal plans, get consents in writing, and trust your instincts--if something feels off, walk away. I wish I'd switched endodontists sooner; now I see one who actually listens. Proceed with extreme caution here.
