CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County woman has filed a suit against a local dentist, claiming the dentist negligently performed a dental makeover, causing the woman to suffer severe dental problems.
Amanda Cottrell filed the suit Oct. 9 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Tontra P. Lowe, a dentist who practices with Wilson Martino Dental Associates in West Virginia. Robert Martino is also named as a defendant.
According to the suit, Cottrell went to Wilson and Martino Dental Associates in the Charleston Town Center on Nov. 16, 2006, for a dental makeover. Cottrell claims she learned of the makeovers after listening to the office's advertisement and viewing their Web site.
Cottrell claims she went to the office and said she wanted four anteriors done, but she says she was talked into having eight teeth restored.
According to the suit, Cottrell received an estimate of $9,000 to have her "whole smile line" restored.
Cottrell claims that on Dec. 22, 2006, she had eight teeth prepared, and had a temporary bridge placed in after impressions were made.
According to the suit, Lowe and Martino ignored obvious problems to her teeth.
"During the course of the dental treatment ... (Cottrell) was left with poor fitting restorations and large amounts of permanent cement under the pontic in various areas of her mouth," the suit says.
Cottrell claims she suffered infection, development of an abscess, open margins in her mouth and gingival damage requiring grafting procedures to correct.
According to the suit, Cottrell has been required to spend large sums of money for dental, prosthodontics and periodontal treatment and services. She will require future dental care and treatment because of the permanent and lasting effect of the injuries, the suit says.
Cottrell claims she has endured pain and suffering, mental anguish and emotional distress, annoyance and inconvenience and loss of ability to enjoy life.
Attorney J. Michael Ranson is representing Cottrell. The case has been assigned to Judge Louis Bloom.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-1980