Dentist Extracted The Wrong Tooth

Dentist extracted the wrong tooth, what do I do?

This is a long one. And I didn't even put down all info. Please read I really need some help on this.

Went to a new dentist last week, they said my upper right molar which had a previous root canal was infected badly.

They informed me of the options: antibiotics, extraction, or redo the root canal.

I refused the root canal because he said the infection would most likely come back, I refused antibiotics because they didn't work for me the last 2 times (different tooth), and I asked to schedule an extraction. Dentist said yes, and that it would be a fine option since antibiotics will take a while and i was in pain. I was fine with extraction because the tooth has already undergone so much work that I was sick of it.

Pre-paid for the extraction. $277.

I came into the appointment, they sat me down, then numbed me. After numbing they asked what painkillers I can have and I told them that I am on lamictal in case there were side effects with the painkillers. He looked it up on Google then proceeded to question me about why I was on it. To not be rude I just said that I was bipolar. They asked if they have been working for me and how long I've been taking it, etc. Then he went into a whole story about how a friend of his took pills for that and it didn't work. Not sure if he was even supposed to ask those questions.

When I was fully numb he pressed on the teeth, I felt him press on the tooth that was needing extraction, twice. I said I felt a little pain when he pressed down. He ended up taking my upper right wisdom tooth out, which was fully in and not causing any pain. I was happy since it came out so quick, said "I don't know why I was worried" to which they responded, "that's normal." Then they immediately put gauze without looking at the extraction site (not sure if they should have) and left the room without saying anything else. Assistant came in 10 minutes later saying I can leave. So I left.

When I got home I checked my mouth and realized they pulled the wrong tooth and I just couldn't realize because I was numbed. It's a black root canal tooth vs a healthy wisdom tooth, I think it wouldn't be hard to tell the difference while pulling it out.

I came back immediately, pulled into the parking lot where the dentist was outside on their phone talking to someone. I asked about 3 people which tooth was supposed to be taken out, they gave zero information and were acting like me being there was an inconvenience. Finally got taken back to go sit in a chair, waited 20 minutes and dentist came in admitting they took the wrong tooth, that they probably traumatized me and they feel horrible. Apparently the computer told him to take tooth #1 so they did.

They said they would do anything to fix it and pay for it. I said I'd have to think and went into the lobby to request my medical records. They took a while to get me them, all of them said tooth #2 was to be extracted. Dentist pulled #1. I asked the receptionist for a written statement from the dentist admitting fault. She sighed, rolled her eyes and went back.

Another lady came to the lobby and asked me to come back and sit in her office to which they gave me a paper listing all of the treatments I payed for, including the extraction where they highlighted the part where it said tooth #1, even though all my dental records say #2. I already had all of these records, the only thing changed was the tooth number which they highlighted. Clearly not a written statement.

I have ectodermal dysplasia. I now only have 19 teeth left, it is very important for me to keep all of the healthy teeth I can, and I'm worried this will affect my face and if I can get implants or not. I only have 4 teeth left on my upper right side now and I am probably going to have to get the infected pulled still.

I was okay with pulling out an infected tooth that had been bothering me for years, not a healthy wisdom tooth that I need.

I have been given advice to sue them. I have been going through a lot emotionally so an old dentist taking something important from me without consent really made me go back into a bad place, the next day I could barely sleep, forgot to take my meds, ended up having an episode which I haven't had since I started seeing my psychiatrist and self harmed. I'm not blaming my dentist for this, it just opened up old wounds. Especially since I now have to go to other dentists, had to skip two days of work to figure out what to do, and possibly go through with suing, a lot of added stress that I am not able to handle properly.

I feel like I am overreacting, but with my condition (which I was assured they knew about and could treat me correctly and carefully), and how they treated me and how careless they seemed. I'm not sure. I am NOT going back to them as a patient. I plan on going to try and get a written statement. I feel like if he can sit in front of me admitting he traumatized me, took a healthy tooth I needed, and messed up, then he can at least write it down for me as confirmation.

They refunded me $245.

Went to my old dentist he didn't say anything other then "yeah they took the wisdom tooth out, here are some antibiotics it's not that bad of an infection." What things should I do legally going forward? Or any other advice?

Location: Illinois