Private dentist negligence snowball

[familygirl]

Hi!

I’m new here and hope this is ok to post here as I wasn’t sure of the best place!

This is quite a long story but I will immensely shorten it as I don’t want anyone getting bored reading it and am happy to fill in any gaps if needed!

So, I relocated with my little family and thought I better register with a new dentist. Decided to go on a recommendation of a private dentist and went for an assessment for Denplan.

Had assessment and was advised that 2 back fillings needed to be replaced (had not had any prior problems with them.) trusting the dentist, I went back and had a descale and fillings replaced.

Tooth 1 started to hurt ALOT so much so I could hardly eat on it. Went back and they advised it was close to the nerve and so would need a root canal or extraction, slept on it and the next day I had it extracted. I decided this because after a lot of asking around/research and the fact I had a holiday coming up, it seemed the wise thing to do.I was charged for this. It was an hour long traumatic process. I thought my face was going to break.
The next day and the week that followed, I was pumping myself up with over the limit painkillers I’ve never experienced pain like it in my life. Went to out of hours dentist to be told I had an infection. It was cleaned out and took quite a few weeks to feel “normal”. In this short space of time my anxiety hit the roof, I was having nightmares and I could feel myself start to feel low. It was a traumatic experience, I was what I felt, ripped off.

Then started replacement number 2. Excruciating pain when eating or light pressure added. By this point I was very low and decided to see a different dentist, this time NHS.
Dentist was lovely, same story, filling to close to the nerve. Same options, this time with I think just over a week to my holiday. Extraction. Quick and simple removal. Although I did have to go back because it had gone into the sinus cavity and the sponge filling the hole fell out.

This is all happened over a period of a few weeks. Numerous times I went back to dentist number 1 with replacement number 1 pain to see what was going on.

After tooth number 2 came out I fell into a deep anxiety and depression. This triggered a type of OCD that is in the mind as opposed to a physical form. I could hardly function. I have a toddler to take care of and it was so difficult. I didn’t want to get out of bed. Once she was asleep at night. I would cry on the sofa and just think about suicide. While I write this it breaks my heart and is still so raw.
i was put on an SSRI to help the symptoms and “fast forwarded” to a mental health team for therapy. (I’m still waiting for my physical appointment. Even though I’d had a phone consultation and was told they would put me as urgent!) I couldn’t wait much longer as I was worried about my well being and had to pay privately (credit card, I am by no means well off!) for private therapy. It was gruelling and I spent time away from my daughter and husband for my therapy. It helped.
I am still in recovery and have a long way to go. The tools I learnt in therapy, I have to use every day but I will get there.

The whole thing had left me feeling shaken to the core. It was the most invasive experience I have ever had, coupled with being charged for it all and no apologies really really got me. I’ve never felt so vulnerable and emotionally drained in all my life.
A simple assessment left me without 2 teeth.

i contacted Dental Law just after I’d had tooth 1 removed. They advised that this was all too common and it wouldn’t be worth my while taking it to court. But I have just reached out to them again as since I spoke to them I’ve had tooth 2 removed and all the mental stress and therapy that followed. So am waiting on a response from them, although I’m not too confident anything will change from their last reply.

To wrap up, I wondered if anyone could help me? I feel I should be compensated for this. It hasn’t just effected me but my whole family. My mum and husband have been beside themselves with worry about my mental health from all of this and it out a huge strain on my relationship. I just don’t want them to “get away” with it. I also would hate for some other poor human being to go through the same trauma that I’ve been through.

Any advice is greatfully received.

Thank you so much for reading.

Familygirl

[Peridot]

Re: Private dentist negligence snowball

Hi familygirl,

You poor thing. Toothache is one of the worst pains and can get anyone down but while dealing with a little one too. I can sympathise. Well done getting some help.

Dental problems are difficult to deal with and even more so when you feel the treatment you have received was not up to par. Unfortunately from what you say you needed the teeth removed and unless you can demonstrate the dentist has actually been negligent in the way he did this you would be unlikely to succeed in any claim in professional negligence claim. It may be more difficult for you to show this when you have had a 2nd dentist deal with the 2nd tooth, unrelated to the 1st and they also prescribed work on that tooth.

Wait for Dental Law to get back to you but I think your suspicions may be correct that they will not take a different view. People react differently to pain which can be devastating for some but this in itself does not enable a claim in negligence against the dentist I'm afraid. It would be necessary to show that he had been negligent in what he had done or the way he had carried out the procedure. If the treatment would be considered appropriate by other dentists then that would not be considered negligence, so you would be left to prove that the way he carried out the treatment was in fact negligent. Because you experienced significant pain and an infection does not in itself demonstrate that the dentist was negligent I'm afraid.

See what Dental Law say, maybe get another opinion from another lawyer who specialises in dental negligence claims if you are unhappy with their response. In order for any law fir to take on your potential claim they would have to assess the claim as more likely than not to succeed, which on the information you have provided may be difficult.

I hope you continue recovering and can put the experience behind you.

[heisenberg]

Dental issues can be such a nightmare - I've suffered many myself.

So if I understand correctly, you believe the teeth extractions were performed at a very poor standard? The problem you face is you would need to prove that no other dentist would have carried out the extraction in such a manner - a really high hurdle to overcome.

If you feel you have been treated below an acceptable standard, you can also complain to the General Dental Council, but I suspect they will not lift a finger unfortunately.

[SoniaFraser]

I think that you do not have a permit for free dental care. It wasn't like that at all, and it would have to be done. But I didn't understand why you had to pay a fine? An awkward situation... When I tried to get dental care in https://perfectasmile.com/ during the covid-19, I was assisted by my insurance. I had already had two covid vaccinations, so they let me into the waiting room and did everything. I am glad that I was vaccinated against coronavirus. Now I don't know what I'm going to do. The doctor told me that I had not yet passed all the stages of vaccination...