- 51-year-old Mr Kevin Brookes has suffered tooth loss after his dentists failed to treat him correctly for over a decade
- £7,000 awarded in compensation for the poor treatment that left him with infections, swelling of his face, and a loss of confidence
Mr Kevin Brookes, a 51-year-old Home Office employee from Waterlooville, Hampshire has been awarded £7,000 by the owners of his former dental practice with the help of specialist dental negligence solicitors the Dental Law Partnership. The payment was awarded after various dentists at the practice failed to diagnose decay across multiple teeth, leading to tooth loss. This caused difficulty eating, infections, facial swelling, and a loss of confidence. He still requires extensive restorative treatment in future and may potentially lose an additional tooth.
Mr Brookes was a patient of My Dentist, 310 Chichester Road, Copnor, Portsmouth, PO2 0AS, between 2010 and 2023, which was owned and operated by First Choice Dental Limited between 2010 and 2023. “Over the last 13 years, I’ve experienced several issues which were flagged at each appointment, such as toothaches, broken teeth and broken fillings – there just always seemed to be a problem,” Mr Brookes recalled.
“It all started from a really bad toothache which came from a previous root canal they performed. In that instance, you phone your dentist thinking they’d look to bring you in immediately and help, but they were unwilling to see me when I needed them most. There is nothing worse than being left in tooth pain,” Mr Brookes said.
“For several years I suffered pain, discomfort and repeated infections. One infection got so bad, the left side of my face swelled up, and they had to prescribe antibiotics to help it heal. There were some days I even had to consider signing off sick from work, that’s how much pain I felt.”
“Due to these ongoing problems, I had to undergo tooth extractions. I was absolutely horrified when I learnt that I needed tooth extractions, there was a real sense of bewilderment as to how this had happened,” Mr Brookes explained. “Due to the severe pain and discomfort from the infections, root canal and extractions, I also couldn’t eat properly and it really affected my daily life.”
Frustrated with the experiences he had gone through, Mr Brookes contacted the Dental Law Partnership in December 2022. Further analysis of his records revealed the extent of the poor dental treatment Mr Brookes received from multiple dentists at the practice. They failed to diagnose and treat decay in five teeth over a decade. This resulted in the loss of a tooth and potentially more – injuries which might have been avoided.
“Despite the torrid time I’ve had over the last decade, I am delighted to no longer be experiencing any pain. However, this process has not ended and it continues to affect my confidence,” Mr Brookes explained. “I still need treatment, including root canal work and implants, to eventually fix the damage that has been done, as well as potentially another extraction. This will affect me for the rest of my life.
“Although I hold no anger toward the practice, it’s hard having to smile in the mirror and looking back only to see a huge gappy smile,” Mr Brookes said. “The way I was treated is incredibly odd, and it’s frustrating they were able to get away with such contempt for my oral health.”
Mr Tim Armitage of the Dental Law Partnership commented: “The distress and pain our client has experienced was completely unnecessary. If the dentists involved had provided more satisfactory treatment, his problems could have been avoided.”
The Dental Law Partnership took on Mr Brookes case in 2022. The case was successfully settled in January 2025 when Mr Brookes was paid £7,000 in an out of court settlement. First Choice Dental Limited did not admit liability.
Any patients who believe they may have received negligent dental care should contact The Dental Law Partnership today