CBS Atlanta News is breaking an exclusive investigation into what caused three Georgia boys to lose their lives following what should have been routine medical procedures.
All three boys, ages 14 to 21, died within a month of each other in a string of tragic and bizarre deaths. They all had their wisdom teeth extracted 16 to 72 hours before they died.
"You take your kids to doctors and dentists, and you don't expect this. You don't expect to lose them," said Bobbie Ellis, the father of Ben Ellis, one of the victims.
The grieving families are speaking out for the first time, only to CBS Atlanta Chief Investigative Reporter Wendy Saltzman. They're sharing their emotional stories as a warning to other parents.
"He was the baby, I miss him terribly," Karan Ellis said about the loss of Ben.
The pain is still extremely raw for the Bobbie and Karan Ellis and the other families, who all lost their sons just four months ago.
"A family should be informed that there is a possibility that your child may not wake up," Lisa Robinson said.
The Robinsons and the Ellis family agreed to speak with CBS Atlanta News to warn others of the dangers they say they were never told about.
"You don't want to go through what we've went through. There are too many kids dying out there. Something needs to be done," Bobbie Ellis said.
The Ellis' son was just 14 years old when they say their oral surgeon recommended that he have all four of his wisdom teeth removed.
"That's my baby, and his beautiful smile" Karan Ellis said. "That's all I've got now is his pictures."
"We have pictures, but we don't have our son," Bobbie Ellis cried.
Ben's wisdom teeth were removed on Dec. 7, 2011.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
CBS Atlanta Exclusive - Three Georgia boys die unexpectedly after dental procedure
Friday, June 17, 2011
Standard still being lowered when it comes to dental anesthesia
My point in sharing these links is to point out that even though kids are dying from teeth extractions performed by DDS and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons... standards are being lowered still !
States where dental hygienists may administer locals
http://www.adha.org/governmental_affairs/downloads/localanesthesiamap.pdf
States where dental hygienists can administer nitrous
http://www.adha.org/governmental_affairs/downloads/Nitrousmap.pdf
Dental Hygiene Practice Act Overview:
Permitted Functions and Supervision Levels by State
http://www.adha.org/governmental_affairs/downloads/fiftyone.pdf
Comparison of Tasks: Dental Therapist vs Advanced Dental Therapist
http://www.dentalboard.state.mn.us/Default.aspx?tabid=1165
The principles, competencies, and curriculum for educating dental therapists
(American Assoc of Public Health Dentistry Panel)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1752-7325.2011.00263.x/full