Woman, 56, wins £40k after dentist ‘ruined her smile & destroyed her confidence’ by ‘ignoring condition millions have’
A WOMAN has won a £40,000 payout after “botched” dental treatment “ruined her smile and destroyed her confidence”.
Lynne Haines, 56, claims she suffered for more than a decade after having severe undiagnosed gum disease.
The HR advisor said she lost several teeth, had huge gaps in her mouth, and poor mental health because of the lack of treatment.
The ordeal allegedly “ruined my smile, me, and my confidence”, so she took up a claim against her dentists.
The case was settled against the dentist for treatment he gave while working at at practice in Aberdare between 2001 and 2014.
The dentist, who has since retired, did not admit liability.
Lynne claimed that despite regular check ups, he never gave any advice or indication that there was anything seriously wrong with her teeth.
During this time, she said a gap in her front teeth had begun to appear.
Four years after last seeing her dentist, she was referred to specialists who reportedly revealed she was suffering with severe periodontal disease and referred her for therapy to treat the extreme bone loss.
Lynne, from Penarth, South Wales, said: “I had a huge gap in my front teeth and many teeth were becoming wobbly.
“The treatment was painful and intrusive and my mouth was constantly sensitive.
“I felt so self-conscious that I never smiled and constantly worried.
“It was a horrible experience and really affected me every day.”
She contacted the Dental Law Partnership in 2020 who took up her claim that her gums should have been treated as far back as 2001.
Lynne said: “I was so angry that I had put my whole trust in the dentist who had ruined my smile, me and my confidence.
“My job requires me to do a lot of face-to-face meetings and I hated being on video calls with my camera on throughout the pandemic.
“The disease is under control for now, but I won’t ever get my bone density back and have to be extremely careful looking after my gums and attending appointments.
“I’ve had some composite bonding which has fixed the appearance of my top teeth, but I know this isn’t a permanent solution and will need to be replaced in a few years.
“While I am happy with my appearance for now, the whole experience has left deep mental scars.”
What is gum disease?
ABOUT 45 per cent of people in the UK have some level of gum disease, or periodontitis.
An estimated 10 per cent of these people have the most severe form.
This can result in shrinking, or receding, gums, gaps appearing between teeth and tooth loss.
Some patients also report difficulty eating.
Source: Diabetes UK