Exeter woman wins £35,000 compensation from dentists
Hannah Berry, a 28 year old Personal Assistant from Farnborough in Hampshire has spent the last two years fighting for compensation with the help of specialist dental negligence solicitors, the Dental Law Partnership, against two dentists, who left her advanced gum disease undiagnosed and untreated, which will result in the loss of 13 of her teeth in the coming years.
Ms Berry visited her local dentist Mr Espach of Broadway Dental Practice in East Sussex in 2008 as she wanted to ensure her teeth were in good order before spending a year abroad in Morocco, and had been experiencing sensitivity in one of her teeth.
Hannah commented, “I’d never experienced sensitivity in my teeth before and I was a little concerned it was a sign something was wrong with my teeth so I booked an appointment with Dr Espach for some peace of mind.”
During her examination with Dr Espach, Hannah had an x-ray taken and was diagnosed with a hyper-sensitive nerve. What her dentist failed to tell her was that she was already suffering from already significant levels of gum disease, which were visible on the x-ray he had taken.
Hannah said, “I was relieved to be honest, the diagnosis of a hyper-sensitive nerve was nothing serious so I presumed I had otherwise healthy teeth and gums.”
Fast forward to 2011 and Hannah had moved dental practices. Now under the care of Dr Turcu-Iorga at Clock Tower Dental Practice in Exeter, Hannah was told her oral health was good and was not aware that her teeth and gums were deteriorating.
Hannah said, “I was told my oral hygiene was good so I presumed there was nothing to worry about. I did raise concerns that my gums were bleeding occasionally but was just told not to brush so hard! I had no idea it was a sign of gum disease.”
Hannah moved from the area in 2014 and it was her new dentist in Guildford who broke the worrying news to her that her gum disease had been left untreated for so long and that she faced the very real risk she would lose multiple teeth.
Hannah Berry said of this news: “I was absolutely gobsmacked, I nearly fainted when I was told the news that I could suffer widespread tooth loss. I had only been told by my previous dentists to brush gently so as not to upset my teeth and gums, not that I was about to lose teeth. This was clearly a case of not being given the right information, being left alone and not being treated by dentists whom we all put our trust in. I felt so angry and upset.”
She continued: “My local practice in Guildford are doing all they can to help me but the private appointments and level of extensive treatment I need which the specialist told me will result in 12-18 months of treatment are not only going to be painful, they are also going to be extremely expensive. I was horrified at how much my teeth are going to cost me now to get fixed and I am only 28 years old! Thanks to Dental Law Partnership, my solicitor Daniel was able to look after my case and get me the money I need to pay for the problems to be fixed. Without this, I would not be able to be this calm.”
Daniel Kinnear, Associate Solicitor at the Dental Law Partnership said: “Our client has suffered unnecessarily as it is clear that had the dentists diagnosed and treated her gum disease and issues in the first place, Hannah would not need the extensive remedial treatment she now requires. A 28 year old woman will now lose many teeth due to two dentist’s failings. We hope that the compensation she receives will go some way towards paying for her future treatment.”
The Dental Law Partnership took on Hannah’s case in September 2014 and the case was successfully settled in March 2016 when the dentists paid £35,000 compensation out of court. Neither dentist has admitted liability.
