An Oradell woman claims Dentist Charlotte O. Lee of Cresskill pulled a molar instead of a wisdom tooth.
CRESSKILL - An Oradell woman who visited her dentist to have a wisdom tooth removed claims the doctor mistakenly pulled a molar instead, according to a malpractice lawsuit filed in Bergen County Superior Court.
File photo of dental work being performed. Ji Soon Jung of Oradell has sued a North Jersey dentist, claiming a wrong tooth was removed. (Associated Press) Ji Soon Jung claims in court papers she sought consultation last spring from Charlotte O. Lee, D.M.D., of Cresskill about removal of a wisdom tooth, along with work she needed on other teeth.
During appointments from April 11 to June 20, Lee worked on three of Jung's teeth, performing a root canal and crown procedures, the lawsuit states.
On June 20, the dentist went to work extracting Jung's wisdom tooth, according to the suit.
"Lee performed a wrong tooth extraction, and extracted (Jung's) second molar, tooth 15, and not her wisdom tooth, tooth 16," the lawsuit states.
"The plaintiff never consented to the removal of her second molar," the suit states.
The suit accuses Lee of professional malpractice, negligence and failure to exercise the proper degree of knowledge, skill and competency in diagnosing, treating and caring for her patient.
Jung claims in the lawsuit she is required to undergo a costly corrective surgery for a dental implant to replace the wrongfully extracted tooth "or other dental treatments to correct the conditions caused by" the dentist.
The suit states Jung has experienced physical and mental suffering as a result of the alleged botched job and will be required "to expend great sums of money for (future) dental services."
Jung's attorneys are seeking unspecified monetary damages.
It was not clear from court documents if the dentist has retained an attorney. Messages left Monday on her office phone and cellphone were not returned.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.