NEWMAN v. DATTA

Insofar as "a fracture" is one statutory definition of "serious injury" (Insurance Law § 5102 [d]), we conclude that defendants failed to establish prima facie that plaintiffs dental injury did not constitute a serious injury within the meaning of the statute ( see Kennedy v Anthony, 195 AD2d 942, 944; see also Sanchez v Romano, 292 AD2d 202, 203). Defendants' expert dentist, based on his examination of plaintiff, identified at least two fractured teeth about which he made no finding that the fractures antedated plaintiff's accident ( see Pommells v Perez, 4 NY3d 566, 572).

We would find, in any event, that plaintiff raised an issue of fact through an affidavit by her oral surgeon, who stated that, based upon his examination of her and review of her dental records, it was his opinion that the accident caused fractures in two of plaintiff's teeth and that, as a result, plaintiff would be required to undergo extensive and ongoing dental treatment ( see Kennedy, 195 AD2d at 944).