Mum Awarded £35,000 in Legal Dispute with Dental Practice Over Tooth Loss

UK: A 42-year-old mum from Solihull, West Midlands, Maggie White, has been awarded £35,000 (US$45k) in an out-of-court settlement following a legal dispute with her long-time dental practice, Kings Heath Dental Practice. 

Ms White had been a regular patient at the clinic, seeking routine check-ups, fillings, and occasional invasive procedures such as root canal treatment. However, her dental issues persisted, reportedly leading to severe pain and multiple tooth extractions.

Years of Pain and Tooth Loss

Lawyers representing Maggie White claimed that she endured “years of pain” without any justifiable reason. Investigations by the Dental Law Partnership revealed that her tooth loss was “unavoidable” due to two undiagnosed cysts and recurring infections.

Ms White expressed her trust in the dental professionals but felt that the dental issues were never-ending, causing considerable disruption to her life.  She recalled missing quality time with her children, taking days off work, and being unable to pursue her normal activities due to the constant pain.

“I have always taken care to look after my teeth. I don’t drink fizzy drinks and have always been conscious to maintain a healthy lifestyle which included dental care,” said Ms White. “However, it felt like the dental issues were never-ending. I trusted the dentists were doing the right thing as they were in the position of authority, so didn’t question how recurring issues were.” 

In 2017, Maggie White switched to a new dental practice, where a cyst in her jaw, which had gone undiagnosed, was discovered. This was identified as the root cause of her prolonged pain and dental issues. Following this revelation, Ms White underwent six years of restorative work, including the extraction of multiple teeth, under the care of her new dentists.

Legal Resolution and Denial of Liability

The case was successfully settled in April 2023, with Ms White receiving £35,000 in compensation. The Dental Law Partnership emphasized that the distress and pain experienced by their client could have been avoided if the dentists had provided more satisfactory treatment.

However, Dr Dinesh Balkrishna, owner of Kings Heath Dental Practice, denied any liability in the matter. A spokesperson for the dental practice stated that they “do not agree with the facts as conveyed by the Dental Law Partnership. For example, Dr Balkrishna was never the patient’s treating dentist, as the Dental Law Partnership implies.” 

Due to confidentiality obligations, they were unable to provide further details regarding the patient’s treatment and management. While the out-of-court settlement compensates for her ordeal, the case underscores the importance of timely diagnoses and proper treatment to prevent avoidable dental issues.