A dad of two had to have a dental implant removed "from his brain" after his oral surgery was allegedly botched.
Ramazan Yılmaz had gone to a private dental clinic in Bursa, Turkey, while suffering with a toothache. The dentist who examined him told him he had loose teeth that needed to be extracted.
The 40-year-old had the teeth in question removed and the dentist - only named in reports as A.D. - recommended that he get implants to replace them. But during the surgery, his attempts to force one of the implants into place allegedly ended up piercing Yılmaz's jawbone.
The screw went all the way up into his cranium, causing him to yell in pain. The dentist allegedly took him to a local hospital, left him there, and fled the scene. Medics gave Yılmaz a CT scan and immediately took him into surgery.
The gruelling operation lasted hours, but the surgeons managed to remove the screw from his brain. He was discharged days later and has now recovered. Yılmaz claimed that the dentist refused to give him a refund when he contacted him.
He is now taking legal action against the oral surgeon. He told local media: "After experiencing discomfort with my teeth, I went to a private dental clinic in Nilüfer. Following examinations there, I was informed that my bone structure was delicate, my teeth were loose, and it was advisable to undergo an implant procedure.
"The doctor claimed to have 24 years of experience in this field and assured us of his expertise. So, we entrusted him with the procedure. Later, while pulling my teeth and performing the implant procedure on the same day, he informed his secretary that the device he was using was faulty.
"He then proceeded to perform the procedure manually. As he attempted to place the screw, I noticed he was exerting excessive force. I pointed this out to him, mentioning that I heard a bone-cracking sound.
"However, he reassured me that it was normal. But as he continued to force the screw, it pierced through my jawbone and into the area behind the eye where the brain and spinal fluid are located. When I screamed in pain, he finally took an X-ray. Realising the seriousness of the situation, he took me to the emergency department of Uludağ University Hospital.
"After examinations there, it was found that the screw had pierced into the area where the brain and spinal fluid are located. Subsequently, expert physicians convened and decided to proceed with surgery. Before the operation, they warned me that I could lose my life. I made peace with my children and bid them farewell. Thankfully, I emerged safely from the surgery." The dentist reportedly claimed the incident occurred "due to a medical complication".