A 23 year old woman in Brazil had wisdom teeth extracted on May 10, 2023 in Brazil. Two days later she returned to the dental clinic complaining about pain at the extraction site. After being evaulated at the clinic the woman was sent home. The next day her pain continued and she sought care at a local Emergency Room. The woman was discharged. The woman’s pain continued and she went back to the Emergency Room the next day and was again discharged.
On May 15, 2023, the woman returned to see her dentist and the dentist referred her to a Hospital. The woman was found to have an acute facial infection and a dental abscess in the location where the wisdom tooth was extracted. The woman was given medication to help with her infection. Unfortunately two days later the woman suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest. She then latter suffered another cardiorespiratory arrest and died.
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There has been an outpouring of support for tributes after the woman’s passing. Her father is hopeful an investigation into her death will help bring justice and answers.
In the past studies have been conducted to try to determine the death rate after wisdom teeth removal such as The Death Rate Among Patients being Treated by Oral Surgeons in Massachusetts. Some of those who have died after received multi-million dollar settlements, see for example Four and half million settlement in wisdom teeth extraction death.
It is unclear what prompted the wisdom teeth extraction in the woman in Brazil.
Sources:
- Pandora Dewan, Woman, 23, Dies After Wisdom Tooth Extraction at the Dentist, Newsweek, May 23, 2023.