In Dentists

Texas dental assistant claims device explosion caused third-degree burns

A dental assistant at Kingwood, Texas-based Northeast Oral filed a complaint Oct. 24 alleging negligence and product liability against three dentists at the practice and surgical device manufacturer Surgiquip Solutions, according to the SE Texas Record.

Sara Underferth claims that an autoclave exploded and caused her second- and third-degree burns as well as hearing loss.

In the complaint, Ms. Underferth said the dentists noticed the device was malfunctioning and took it out of service. However, when Ms. Underferth was in the storage room where the device was placed, she claims it exploded.

The three dentists listed in the lawsuit are Robert Stanton, DDS, Victor Manon, DDS, and Ermelinda Da Ponte, DDS.

Ms. Underferth is seeking between $1 million and $10 million in monetary relief.

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