A Missouri man has filed a lawsuit against a dental practice, alleging he swallowed a metal dental file during a root canal procedure—a mistake that later required surgery.
According to a report published by the Kansas City Star on July 15, John Bussard filed the lawsuit against Dental Arts KC, located in Independence, Missouri. He claims the incident left him with ongoing pain, a permanent neck scar, and difficulties speaking and swallowing.
The event reportedly occurred in July 2023, when Bussard visited the clinic for a root canal. During the procedure, Dr. Jeremy Bowen drilled into the affected tooth. At some point during the treatment, Bowen or another member of the team allegedly dropped the metal file into Bussard’s throat.
The lawsuit states that Bowen then escorted Bussard to a bathroom and attempted to retrieve the file by encouraging him to vomit. When the effort failed, the dental staff allegedly chose not to call emergency services. Instead, Bussard drove himself to the hospital, following behind a dental assistant who was transporting Dr. Bowen.
Once at the hospital, Bussard underwent surgery to have the file removed.
The suit also accuses Dr. Bowen of failing to use a dental dam or similar protective device that could have prevented the patient from swallowing the instrument. Additionally, Bussard alleges that Bowen lacked board certification in endodontics and held only limited training in the specialty, without a master’s degree.
The legal case raises concerns over safety protocols in dental practices and the qualifications of those performing complex procedures like root canals. As of now, no response from Dental Arts KC or Dr. Bowen has been reported.