A woman who lost three teeth after dentists failed to treat her chronic gum disease has received £32,500 in an out-of-court settlement.
Allyson Ng, from Kingswood, Bristol, has said she struggles to chew any meat because of the gaping hole left behind.
Ms Ng took Apple Dental Practice to court for dental negligence by Dr Priest and Dr House. She had been treated at the practice since 2002 and had regular check-ups and scale and polishes.
In 2009 her notes showed her dentist had discovered an issue with her periodontal health, but no treatment was carried out and the problem continued to worsen. In 2011, Allyson had to have antibiotics for an infection and she was then referred to a hygienist.
In 2014 she became concerned about her treatment and visited another dentist, who told her that she was suffering from acute gum disease and referred her to a specialist. She then had to have three teeth removed as they had deteriorated beyond repair.
Jonathan Owen, solicitor at Dental Law Partnership, said that “The shame of this case is that, had Allyson been treated correctly, she should still have her teeth but instead she faces an intensive course of implant replacement therapy and will be visiting the dentist for corrective and restorative treatment for the foreseeable future.
“Her neglect spanned years and only stopped when she took matters into her own hands and sought help from another dentist.”
Allyson contacted the Dental Law Partnership, who accepted her case in July 2014. The case was concluded in October 2015, and settled out of court for £32,500. The defendants, Dr Priest and Dr House, of the Apple Dental Practice, did not admit liability for their actions.
Periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease, is a common condition where the gums become swollen, sore or infected. The early stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis which, if not treated, can cause a condition called periodontitis. If periodontitis isn’t treated, the bone in your jaw may be damaged and small spaces can open up between the gum and teeth, causing the teeth to become loose and fall out.