Dental Patient Awarded £17K After Needle Break Incident

UK: A Kent resident has received a £17,000 out-of-court settlement following a dental procedure where an anaesthetic needle broke off and became lodged in his mouth, according to a report from KentLive news. The incident, which occurred at The Vale Dental Clinic in London’s Golders Green area in 2021, resulted in permanent nerve damage for the patient.

Background and Initial Procedure

Joe Woollen, a 41-year-old HGV driver and father of six from Medway, sought dental treatment after experiencing severe toothache. According to the report, Woollen had avoided dental visits since age 13 due to his fear of needles. “I didn’t go to the dentist from the age of 13 because I didn’t like needles, and when I finally did, that happened,” Woollen told reporters.

The Incident

During what should have been a routine tooth extraction, complications arose when a local anaesthetic was administered. “They couldn’t find the end of the syringe, the needle, and then they were reaching around in my mouth, like a vet was trying to help a cow give birth – that’s how it felt,” Woollen recounted. The 2.1cm needle had broken off and become lodged in the soft tissue near his jaw.

Medical Response and Treatment

Following the incident, Woollen was referred to Queen Victoria Hospital in Crawley for emergency treatment. “The hospital staff couldn’t believe it; they were literally queueing to look at this X-ray,” he said. The surgical procedure to remove the needle required over 100 small incisions in his gum.

Long-term Impact

The incident has resulted in significant ongoing complications for Woollen. “I have lost all feeling in my lower jaw… and I dribble now. I bite through my cheek so my mouth’s bleeding and I don’t even notice because I can’t even feel it,” he explained. The psychological impact has also been substantial, with Woollen reporting: “Afterwards I was having nightmares for months, literally waking up, sweating and shouting – my missus and kids were scared.”

Legal Proceedings and Settlement

The Dental Law Partnership, which handled Woollen’s case, argued that proper execution of the local anaesthetic injection could have prevented the incident. While the £17,000 settlement was reached in July 2024, the dentist, Dr Rajarajeshwari Krishnamurthy, did not admit liability.

Dentist’s Response

In response to the case, Dr Krishnamurthy stated: “I would like to make it clear that I do not agree with the facts as conveyed by the Dental Law Partnership, but I cannot provide details of this patient’s treatment and management because of my professional duty to protect the confidentiality of my patients.” She added that she “take[s] pride in providing the highest standards of treatment and care to all my patients.”

Patient’s Current Situation

Following the settlement, Woollen expressed his intention to use the compensation for family holidays and Christmas presents. Despite his ongoing issues, he indicated he was “happy with the decision” and keen to “move on as quickly as possible.” However, his dental anxiety has only intensified, with Woollen stating firmly: “I’m never going back (to the dentist) – I’m done, I’m out.”