150 families have now filed lawsuits in Orange County Superior Court , Santa Ana, California against Children’s Dental Group — Number is expected to grow

By Deepa Bharath | dbharath@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: January 16, 2019 at 6:11 pm | UPDATED: January 18, 2019 at 2:19 pm

                              

IRVINE — Sixty-five families whose children were infected by rare bacteria when they underwent pulpotomies, or “baby root canals,” at an Anaheim clinic two years ago filed a lawsuit Wednesday, Jan. 16, naming the clinic, its operators, the company that installs and maintains water filtration systems, and several dentists.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana, alleges that Children’s Dental Group and dentists who provided services there performed hundreds if not thousands of unnecessary pulpotomies on children. Potentially deadly Mycobacterium abscesses was found in several samples the county’s Health Care Agency took from the clinic’s water system. 

The children, ages 3 to 9, all underwent pulpotomies at the clinic between April and July 2016. In all, 500 children underwent the procedure during that time.

Children’s Dental Group has since become part of Western Dental. The clinic in question on East Lincoln Avenue is not owned or operated by Western Dental, but has changed hands.

So far, 150 families have filed lawsuits against the clinic and the number is expected to grow, said Dan Hodes, Irvine-based medical malpractice lawyer who is representing the children and their families.

READ THE ENTIRE UPDATE ON THIS STORY HERE

Related links:

Orange County Public Health - Dental Outbreak (Mycobacterium)

57 children who underwent baby tooth root canals, orpulpotomies, at Children’s Dental Group have been hospitalized – October 27, 2016

Anaheim dental clinic ordered to stop using water after 10 kids hospitalized – September 16, 2016

Law Offices of James R. Moriarty Facebook

Law Offices of James R. Moriarty Website

Child Abused and Traumatized At Children’s Dental Group–Santa Ana, California

On March 2, 2011 4 1/2 year old “Sam” went to the dentist for his very 1st visit to the dentist.  His mom had prepared him for the visit by explaining what to the nice dentist would do, how the dentist was there to keep his teeth healthy let him ask question so that he was comfortable, maybe even be exited to be such a big boy and go see the dentist.

“Sam” is very bright, and articulate. He can express himself very well, and has been talking in full sentences since he was 2 years old. 

It’s very concerning to think that states are passing laws requiring children to have dental exam prior to starting school, when this is becoming the normal standard of care delivered by dentists here in the US.

Below “Sam’s” mom tells us what happened. 

Children’s Dental Group – Santa Ana, California

March 2, 2011

I went online and researched dentist offices in orange county, and attempted to find the most “kid friendly” practice, because my son had apprehension about going to the dentist and came across Children’s Dental Group.