Fixodent class action lawsuit!

[Daurang]

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It's in the news again...🙁

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/fixodent-popular-denture-cream-nerve-damage/story?id=12866372

 

[cmirabal25]

Thanks for the post. Zinc ehhh. I remember hearing about this on the news a little while back, and was bummed because I never found any answers as to what the actual problem was.

Does anyone know if any of the patient's dentists can be held liable for any damage? For example, if a patient asked which denture cream they should use and their dentist told them Fixodent, or is the case that since different denture adhesive products exist, it is at the patient's discretion which product they decide to use.

Taking that question one step further. Can dentists be held liable for the product recommendations they make when patients ask for advice or opinions on which oral hygiene product or brand they should use?

 

[DrJeff]

It's going to be interesting to see how this one plays out. The labeling on the packaging for fixodent saysto use a small amount, I know personally when I'm instructing my patients in denture adhesive use, that I tell them to use just 3 or 4 pea sized dots of adhesive.

The problem it seems with the zinc in the adhesive is from people who choose not to follow the directions on the packaging, and apply a large quatity of adhesive to their denture multiple times per day. These people would likely benefit more from a trip to their dentist for a denture reline or a new denture being made, or some implants to retain their denture then from a trip to the drug store to buy another tube of adhesive!

 

[GTFOOMICT]

Taking that question one step further. Can dentists be held liable for the product recommendations they make when patients ask for advice or opinions on which oral hygiene brand product or brand they should use?

That's a good question.

I wonder if a verbal product recommendation is a prescription.

However, if the dental community as a whole recommends the product, that individual is not acting out of line.

What do others think?

 

[cresophene]

It's going to be interesting to see how this one plays out. The labeling on the packaging for fixodent saysto use a small amount, I know personally when I'm instructing my patients in denture adhesive use, that I tell them to use just 3 or 4 pea sized dots of adhesive.

The problem it seems with the zinc in the adhesive is from people who choose not to follow the directions on the packaging, and apply a large quatity of adhesive to their denture multiple times per day. These people would likely benefit more from a trip to their dentist for a denture reline or a new denture being made, or some implants to retain their denture then from a trip to the drug store to buy another tube of adhesive!

It's in the same breath we tell patients to use Paracetamol 500mg for pain, but the rare person douses 30 and tries to kill themselves.
Are we liable? Is the pharmacological company liable?
Or is it the patient who simply doesn't follow instructions(or in this case has a mental condition).

 

[cresophene]

That's a good question.

I wonder if a verbal product recommendation is a prescription.

However, if the dental community as a whole recommends the product, that individual is not acting out of line.

What do others think?

I believe prescription by definition includes the word 'written. I could be wrong..and probably am.