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£27,000 award for shoddy crowns and bridgework
Our client, a 70 year old woman from the North West was awarded £27,000 in an out of court settlement after her dentist provided a mouthful of poor crowns and bridge work.
Mrs I attended the defendant Dr K, in April 2010 as she was concerned that the metal clasps on her denture showed when she opened her mouth. Dr K discussed the option of bridgework and implants to counter the problem.
Mrs I returned to Dr K in May 2010 when a treatment plan was decided which included a ten unit bridge in her upper jaw, ten crowns in her lower jaw and a crown on one of her upper teeth. Mrs I’s teeth were subsequently prepared for the crowns and the bridgework. Three teeth were root filled and temporary crowns were fitted.
The following month, in June 2010, Mrs I attended Dr K to have some of the temporary crowns removed and some of the new crowns and bridgework placed. Study models taken of the temporary crowns show poor aesthetics.
Mrs I wasn’t completely satisfied with the appearance of the temporary crowns and went back the following week to have some of the temporary crowns shortened. On 17th June 2010 all of the temporary crowns were removed and the new crowns and bridgework was fitted.
A week later Mrs I went back to Dr K complaining that several of her family and friends had commented that she looked like she had too many teeth in her mouth. Unhappy with the appearance of her new teeth, Mrs I decided to attend a new dentist in July 2010 for a second opinion.
The new dentist examined her teeth and confirmed that the crowns and bridgework was not completed to a satisfactory standard. There was cement still present between some of the teeth, the crowns and bridgework didn’t fit properly, the incisors looked false and too many teeth were included on the upper bridge. The new dentist also took an X-ray which revealed that the root canal treatment she had in May 2010 was also unsatisfactory.
While Dr K neither admitted nor denied liability, the Dental Law Partnership successfully brought a case of dental negligence against him and Mrs I will use the damages to undergo extensive treatment to re-do the crown and bridgework.