An eighteen-year-old has been awarded £11,000 after ill-fitting braces left his teeth ‘sticking out’ after three-and-a-half years of treatment.

Kai Orley from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, stated that he experienced a ‘traumatic nightmare’ ever since he attended his first dental appointment at ten years of age.

Dr. Andrew Zaranko was administering Kai’s orthodontic treatment at Belasis Dental Practice, Billingham, but it became apparent that his treatment was resulting in  more harm than good.

Kai stated:

“My front four teeth gradually began to stick out, which had never been an issue before. It was an extremely frustrating and traumatic experience that affected my mental health and my diet a lot throughout secondary school.

“The retainers made me miserable as they were so painful and uncomfortable. I constantly felt anxious about my teeth and I found it really hard to eat lunch at school for a time as I was in so much discomfort.”

Kai’s first visit to Dr. Zaranko happened in tear six of primary school, when he was ten years old. He said:

“Tooth extractions were discussed, but Dr Zaranko thought I could proceed without them, and we started the orthodontic work properly in April 2017 when I was 11, and then in January 2018 I had a fixed brace installed.”

Kai attended monthly appointments for coils and elastics fitting. However, it “didn’t seem like my teeth got any better at all.

“My front four teeth gradually began to stick out, which had never been an issue before.

“Mum and I raised concerns about the lack of improvement but were constantly told by Dr Zaranko that it would get better – we just needed more time”.

Kai’s mother subsequently sought the advice of a second dentist in November 2020.

Kai said:

“At the new practice, we were told that I needed two teeth extracted – which is what Dr Zaranko had said we could proceed without doing.

“I had the teeth extracted and a new set of braces fitted by the new dentist, and my teeth began to improve.

“I finally had my braces taken off in April 2022, aged 16, more than five years after my initial treatment started.”

Kai said that he was “horrified” to learn that other patients could still receive treatment from this dentist.

A Dental Negligence solicitor took on Kai’s case and received an £11,000 out-of-court settlement, but the dentist did not accept liability.

My two penneth

Good on this young man on the successful resolution of his case. Absolutely shocking though that the dentist didn’t accept liability and is still at large.

I hope that Kai can now move on from this with his settlement, though it is scary to think that this could happen to others. proper procedure needs to be in place internally to ensure that anyone practising is kept up to standard.