CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County woman claims the care she received at an orthodontic practice resulted in one tooth being broke off and more having to be removed because of improper treatment.
Anna Darnold filed her complaint against Dr. W. Shane Holmes Inc. and orthodontists W. Shane Holmes, John A Palmer and Michael Signorelli in Kanawha Circuit Court.
According to the complaint, Darnold was referred to the defendant business in October 2011. Over the course of several years, she says she underwent various procedures and treatment by the defendants. Some of the procedures were placing an expander to her palate and affixing braces to her teeth. Part of that included oral surgery to expose and ligate upper canines.
By summer 2018, the defendants saw unnatural mobility, palatal recession and bone loss around Darnold’s upper canines.
“Despite the deterioration of plaintiff’s dental health, defendants continued on the same course of treatment,” the complaint states. On December 11, 2018, “an employee of defendants was adjusting plaintiff’s braces and broke off her upper right canine.
“Thereafter, Dr. Holmes examined the tooth and informed plaintiff there was nothing he could do, and the tooth would need removed.”
After having the tooth removed and being referred to another orthodontist, the new orthodontist noted Darnold suffered from severe root resorption. That caused her to lose her six upper front teeth. She had a procedure to remove those teeth and have temporary teeth inserted.
Because of that procedure, Darnold says she was forced to quit extracurricular school activities such as cheerleading for fear of further injuries. She also says she missed significant amounts of school for recovery. She also says she has suffered significant anxiety and depression.
She accuses the defendants of medical malpractice and negligence, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress and respondent superior liability.
She seeks joint and several compensatory damages for her injuries, medical expenses, physical and mental pain and suffering, annoyance, embarrassment, humiliation, inconvenience, permanent scarring and disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life. She also seeks pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees and court costs.
Darnold is being represented by Bradley D. Dunkle and Angela Cartmill Reese of Calwell Luce diTrapano in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 20-C-513
