A woman has won a £40,000 settlement after her dentist failed to diagnose severe gum disease, despite her going for regular check-ups.

Lynne Haines, a HR advisor from South Wales, lost several teeth, poor mental health and had huge gaps left in her mouth because her dentist failed to recognise the common condition.

Ms Haines told a news outlet that the ordeal “ruined my smile, me, and my confidence” so she decided to make a claim against her dentist. She said that her dentist gave no advice or any indication that anything was wrong with her oral health, despite going for regular check-ups.

However, Ms. Haines said she noticed a gap was starting to form between her front teeth, and four years after last seeing her dentist, she was referred to specialists. It was found that Lynne was suffering from periodontal disease, and was referred for treatment for extreme bone loss.

 

Lynne, from Penarth, South Wales, said:

“I had a huge gap in my front teeth and many teeth were becoming wobbly.

 

“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 treatment was painful and intrusive and my mouth was constantly sensitive. I felt so self-conscious that I never smiled and constantly worried.”

 

Lynne contacted the Dental Law Partnership in 2020 who took up her claim and said that her gums should have been treated as far back as 2001.

The HR advisor has now had composite bonding to fix the appearance of her teeth, but she said she knows this is ‘not a permanent solution’ and they 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,” she said.

The case was settled against the dentist for treatment he gave while working at a practice in Aberdare between 2001 and 2014. However, he has since retired and did not admit liability for the ordeal.

Gum disease periodontitis – what it is

Periodontitis, also known as gum disease is a serious gum infection that causes damage to the soft tissue around your teeth. The disease can destroy the bone that supports your teeth, which can cause the teeth to loosen or fall out.

Periodontitis can usually be prevented with the correct oral care.

Gum disease symptoms

• Swollen or puffy gums.
• Bright red, dark red or dark purple gums.
• Gums that feel tender when touched.
• Gums that bleed easily.
• A toothbrush that looks pink after brushing your teeth.
• Spitting out blood when brushing or flossing your teeth.
• Bad breath that won’t go away.
• Pus between your teeth and gums.
• Loose teeth or loss of teeth.
• Painful chewing.
• New spaces that develop between your teeth that look like black triangles.
• Gums that pull away from your teeth, making your teeth look longer than usual, called receding gums.
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite 

Gum disease treatment

Treatment for gum disease depends on how severe and the stage of the disease.

According to the NHS website, in early stages you dentist will do the following:

• Give advice about how to keep your teeth clean – such as using interdental brushes
• If you smoke, advise you to stop
• Advise you to get your teeth cleaned by a hygienist

If your gum disease is serious, you may need further treatment such as:

• Deep cleaning under the gums
• Antibiotics
• To have some teeth removed
• Gum surgery

Preventing gum disease

Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth. If plaque is not removed regularly by brushing and cleaning them regularly, it will build up and irritate your gums.

To prevent gum disease, you can do the following:

• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day
• Clean in between your teeth with floss or interdental brushes everyday
• Replace your toothbrush every one to three months
• See a dentist and dental hygienist for regular check-ups – especially if you’re pregnant or have type two diabetes