A woman filed a lawsuit on Thursday against a dental chain who she claimed caused permanent injury by placing ill-fitting dental work that contained toxic materials inside her mouth.
Faye Lewis filed the suit against Aspen Dental and two of their dentists for negligence, 10TV's Lindsey Seavert reported.
"We should not be victims when we go to the dentist," Lewis said.
ONLINE EXTRA: Read The Lawsuit | SPECIAL SECTION: Lead In Dental Work
Her jaw now slips out of place, swells and her teeth don't meet. She now wears a special appliance for Temporomandibular joint disorder, a condition that can result in pain, inflammation and impairment.
Last year, Lewis, a senior citizen on a fixed income, found an affordable dental chain near her home in Stow, Ohio. Aspen Dental operates more than 110 offices in 10 states.
Lewis, 74, claims that the dentists caused pain and permanent damage when they installed a bridge that was too large for her mouth and filed it down to make it fit.
"From the very onset, I had pain in my face," Lewis said.
Employees then told her that the painful dental work was created in China. The lawsuit states the dental work was unsafe and contained toxic materials that were hazardous to her health.
Lewis brought her bridge to a lab for tests and scientists found levels of lead.
"It's a disgrace and disgusting the dental industry would allow this and the buck stops right at their door," Lewis said. "I am happy being a grandmother. I am not happy having my teeth exposed and dental problems exposed."
Lewis said that her biggest worry is that she is not the only patient who set out to fix a smile and is now left to fix much more.
"Now I have to help everyone else and this is what I am going to do," she said.
One of the dentists named in the lawsuit is on probation with the state for past problems treating patients. The lawsuit requests compensation for medical damages and a trial, Seavert reported.
Aspen Dental declined comment.
Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for continuing coverage.
Previous Stories:
November 19, 2008:
New Regulations Could Mean Safer Dental Work
May 20, 2008:
Ohio's Vets Might Not Receive American Products
May 6, 2008:
10 Investigates' Dental Report Sparks ADA Investigation
April 23, 2008:
Ohio Could Adopt New Dental Work Regulation
March 31, 2008:
Exclusive: Woman Discusses Lead-Contaminated Dental Work
March 25, 2008:
Alabama Introduces Dental Lab Legislation
March 13, 2008:
Some Dentists Don't Know Where Lead Contamination Is Coming From
March 6, 2008:
Lawmakers Pressed For Answers After Lead Reports
March 4, 2008:
Lawmakers, FDA Eye Dental Work Report
February 28, 2008:
State Dental Board Takes Action After 10 Investigates Report
February 27, 2008:
Foreign Dental Work Put To Test
