£12,500 Compensation Awarded After Dental Errors

UK: A man has been granted £12,500 in compensation following dental errors that left him struggling to eat and caused months of pain and inconvenience.

Mazin Karkotli, 34, sought dental care at Mile End Dental Clinic in Colchester, Essex, where he was under the care of Dr. Sayad Houssain Faghany. Mr. Karkotli, residing in Ipswich, Suffolk, relocated to the practice in 2019 due to its proximity to his workplace. In May of that year, he attended an appointment due to complaints of broken teeth, leading to the diagnosis of deep decay in one of his upper teeth. A few weeks later, a filling was placed in that tooth without the use of any anaesthetic.

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Continuing Pain and Follow-Up Visits

Despite the dental treatment received, Mr. Karkotli’s pain persisted, necessitating multiple follow-up visits to the practice. He described his experience: “Over the summer, I kept experiencing pain in my top teeth.” In August, he returned to the practice, where Dr. Faghany administered root canal treatment in an adjacent tooth to the previously identified decay. However, Mr. Karkotli continued to suffer pain and discomfort in his mouth in the subsequent months.

Seeking Relief at Another Practice

In early 2020, Mr. Karkotli sought treatment at a different dental practice due to the persistent pain he was enduring. He recounted, “The new dentist advised me that the fillings I’d been given were insufficient. I was going to need further root canal to restore my teeth.” Mr. Karkotli expressed his frustration at having to repeat treatments he had already undergone, incurring double the cost. He further explained the impact of his dental issues on his daily life, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown period: “It was really disruptive – I couldn’t eat in those areas of my mouth for months, I was regularly having to take painkillers, and it was disrupting my sleep.”

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Upon reaching out to the Dental Law Partnership in 2022, a thorough analysis revealed multiple errors in diagnosis and treatment planning. It was determined that had the initially identified tooth with decay received appropriate treatment, Mr. Karkotli’s pain and suffering could have been avoided. The legal group emphasized that both teeth subjected to improper treatment could have maintained an excellent long-term prognosis.

Out of Court Settlement

After taking on Mr. Karkotli’s case in 2022, the Dental Law Partnership successfully settled the case in June 2023, with Mr. Karkotli receiving £12,500 in an out-of-court settlement. The dentist involved did not admit liability.

In response to the case, a spokesman for Mile End Dental Clinic clarified their perspective, stating, “Dr. Sayad Houssain Faghany was a part-time dentist at our clinic, and his employment with us ended two years ago.” The clinic emphasized that each dentist at the practice is responsible for the treatments they perform and highlighted that Mr. Karkotli’s dental treatment extended beyond their facility.

The clinic also expressed its commitment to patient care and satisfaction, stating that they have never settled any cases and were unaware of this particular case until recently.

The case underscores the importance of quality dental care and the potential consequences of errors in diagnosis and treatment.

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