Mossley woman awarded £20k after dentists' neglect led to loss of several teeth

A 55-year-old support worker from Mossley has been awarded £20,000 from her former dentist after a series of dentists at the same practice failed to diagnose or treat gum disease and decay for a decade.

The lack of actions resulted in infections, significant tooth loss and considerable lifestyle changes for patient Elesha English.

Mrs English had been a long-standing patient at Showman and Clark Dental Practice in Queens Walk in nearby Droylsden, where she was treated between 2007 and 2018 by a number of dentists.

“I’d been aware of some tenderness in my gums for a while, but when I raised concerns as I thought my gums were receding, it was just recommended I keep my teeth clean, and there was no further suggestion of any further treatment,” Mrs English, who has received help from specialist dental negligence solicitors the Dental Law Partnership, recalled.

“On multiple occasions between 2016 and 2018, I experienced severe pain around my teeth and made multiple visits to the dentists, and was given antibiotics to treat infections, and it was noted that some of my teeth had become mobile.

“However, it wasn’t until the dental practice was sold in 2018 and I began to be treated by a new dentist that the scale of the issues in my mouth were diagnosed.

"By this point, my periodontal disease had become advanced.”

Mrs English was experiencing regular infections and the pain was so severe she had to take time off work.

She could feel her teeth moving, and in 2018 one of her teeth fell out whilst she was on holiday.

Between 2019 and 2021, Mrs English underwent the extractions of six teeth, and is likely to lose further teeth as a result of the bone loss caused by the periodontal disease.

Mrs English contacted the Dental Law Partnership in 2020.

Further analysis revealed that periodontal disease should have been diagnosed, and treated, as far back as 2007, which would have avoided the irreversible symptoms Mrs English will continue to experience for the rest of her life.

“The whole experience has massively knocked my confidence," Mrs English added.

"The appearance of my teeth makes me feel so self-conscious to the point I don’t go out much anymore - I used to love karaoke but now I would never go to something where my mouth would be on show.

“I’ve had a temporary palate installed to help fill the gaps, but it’s very painful which makes it hard to eat on that side of my mouth so I’ve had to drastically change my diet, which has made me put on weight.

"I haven’t lost my front teeth yet, but I lose sleep at night worrying as that is likely to happen next.”

Tim Armitage, of the Dental Law Partnership, said: “The distress and pain our client has experienced was completely unnecessary.

"If the dentists involved had undertaken more sufficient examinations at the outset and provided more appropriate treatment, her problems could have been avoided.”

The Dental Law Partnership took on Mrs English’s case in 2020.

The case was successfully settled in January 2023 when Mrs English was paid £20,000 in an out of court settlement.

The dentists involved did not admit liability.

Any patients who believe they may have received negligent dental care should visit: dentallaw.co.uk

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