FORT DODGE, Iowa — A Fort Dodge dentist accused of extracting a healthy tooth during a “chaotic” procedure has agreed to surrender his Iowa license amid a pending malpractice lawsuit and disciplinary action by the state dental board.
According to a lawsuit filed by Drew Ewing in Webster County, Ewing visited the Aspen Dental clinic in Fort Dodge in May 2022 complaining of molar pain. He was treated by Dr. Corey Jerrod Williams, 35, who allegedly recommended extensive dental work, including removal of temporary crowns and placement of permanent crowns.
The first procedure, performed June 28, 2022, “went terribly wrong,” the lawsuit claims. While removing temporary crowns, Williams allegedly discovered they had been affixed with a permanent adhesive rather than a temporary one. Clinic staff acknowledged the mistake, the lawsuit states.
Because of the adhesive, Williams reportedly struggled to remove the crowns while Ewing experienced significant pain. The lawsuit alleges Williams paused the procedure because the situation had become “so intense.”
When work resumed, Williams allegedly extracted Ewing’s front left tooth without administering pain medication. According to the lawsuit, Williams then told Ewing he did not know what to do and had never encountered such a situation.
The procedure became “even more chaotic” when the newly fabricated permanent crowns did not fit, the lawsuit claims. At one point, Ewing was left bleeding while Williams left the room to consult with a hygienist. The temporary crowns were eventually reinstalled.
The lawsuit alleges Aspen Dental repeatedly promised to correct the situation but failed to follow through. Ewing later sought care from another dentist and underwent extensive corrective treatment to address what he describes as permanent damage to his mouth and teeth.
Ewing is seeking unspecified damages for negligence, medical malpractice, breach of contract and unjust enrichment. In court filings, Williams denied wrongdoing and stated he was not negligent in his care and treatment. A trial-setting conference is scheduled for March 6, 2026.
Aspen Dental Management, doing business as Aspen Dental and Iowa Dental, was initially named as a defendant but was dismissed from the case in July 2025.
Separately, the Iowa Dental Board charged Williams with failing to maintain a satisfactory level of competence. Although the board did not identify the clinic or date involved, its allegations mirror those in Ewing’s lawsuit, including the accidental removal of a patient’s front incisor during an attempt to remove temporary crowns.
The board said it retained a consultant to review additional cases handled by Williams. The consultant identified concerns in six patient records. The board concluded Williams demonstrated a pattern of problematic crown and fixed partial denture work and cited inadequate documentation to justify certain treatments.
Williams waived his right to a hearing and consented to an order voluntarily surrendering his Iowa dental license. He may apply for reinstatement after one year.