North East woman awarded £30,000 compensation after dentist fails to spot serious gum disease over a 17 year period

Mrs M attended her local dental practice on a regular basis, yet her dentist of 17 years failed to identify the deteriorating state of her gums. Thankfully, the Dental Law Partnership was on hand to help, managing to secure the client £30,000 in damages.

After she first attended the practice in 1996, Mrs M sought regular dental advice from Dr E, whom she trusted with her oral health. When she began to experience discomfort in her mouth, particularly her gums, Mrs M’s first thought was to go and see her dentist Dr E.

She was told by Dr E that there was nothing to worry about in regards to her teeth, and pain killers were recommended. However, Mrs M was not satisfied with Dr E’s response as her pain continued for a number of weeks. She decided to seek a second opinion from another dentist, where the true extent of the neglect became apparent.
The examination by her new dentist revealed that the cause of Mrs M’s pain was in fact extensive gum disease, which was so severe that Mrs M had to have 7 teeth extracted, and extensive remedial treatment in order to bring the disease under control.

Mrs M approached The Dental Law Partnership when she realised the extent of the damage, and a review of her dental records revealed that Dr E had failed to diagnose and treat Mrs M’s gum disease in an appropriate fashion over 17 years. Our client ought to have been referred to a gum disease specialist at an early stage which could have dramatically changed the outcome of her condition.

The Dental Law Partnership managed to settle the claim successfully and secure £30,000 compensation for Mrs M, who will now be able to put the ordeal behind her.

If you need to talk to someone about a potential dental negligence claim, get in touch with our expert legal team today by calling freephone 0808 274 6294 or using our online claim form. You can also find more dental advice here.

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