The federal lawsuit filed last month against Dr. George Trusty seeks $600,000 for her medical expenses, pain and suffering.
Trusty, 57, a dentist at Syracuse Community Health Center, declined to comment, as did Dr. Ruben Cowart, the center's president and CEO.
Fanning said she went to the center's emergency dental clinic after pain in a left molar started getting worse. With a root canal ruled out as an option, Trusty gave her some Novocain and began drilling to break up the tooth before extracting it, she said.
As Trusty drilled, he was "performing rhythmical steps and movements to the song `Car Wash,'" which was on the radio, according to the lawsuit. Then, Fanning heard a snap.
Trusty tried to use a metal hook to pull the bit out, but that only
pushed it farther up, driving it through the sinus and bone near her eye
socket, the lawsuit alleged.
After first minimizing the problem, Trusty talked to an oral surgeon to
set up an appointment - and then told Fanning she needed to get to an
emergency room immediately, according to the lawsuit.
