Emsworth woman wins £12,000 compensation from dentist

A WOMAN who says she was left in agony after problems with her teeth were missed has received compensation.

Alex Harling, from Emsworth, won £12,000 in compensation from her former dentist after complaining that he failed to provide adequate treatment when she was suffering from pain.

The lack of treatment meant the 33-year-old had to have a tooth extracted at hospital and will need future corrective treatment, The Dental Law Partnership said.

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Between May 2012 and November 2012 Mrs Harling visited Mark Ricketts, at Oakham Dental Surgery in Oakham.

X-Ray images showing problems with Alex Harling's teeth. 
Picture: The Dental Law PartnershipX-Ray images showing problems with Alex Harling's teeth. 
Picture: The Dental Law Partnership
X-Ray images showing problems with Alex Harling's teeth. Picture: The Dental Law Partnership

She said: ‘I’d never had any concerns about my teeth.

I’d had a filling or two fitted but other than that my dental health seemed fine, until I started suffering from toothache.’

Mrs Harling visited Mr Ricketts, who paid compensation but did not admit liability, complaining of toothache. The dentist, who left Oakham Dental Surgery in 2016, placed fillings, but in 2014 Mrs Harling was suffering from extreme pain and sensitivity.

Then, in early 2015 she had to have an emergency appointment, at a new dentist.

X-Ray images showing problems with Alex Harling's teeth.X-Ray images showing problems with Alex Harling's teeth.
X-Ray images showing problems with Alex Harling's teeth.
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She was experiencing severe pain and was struggling to open her mouth.

A month later, Mrs Harling went to hospital because of the pain and was referred to have the tooth surgically taken out.

She added: ‘It was an awful couple of days. I had to be put under general anaesthetic because they couldn’t open my mouth when I was conscious.’

Mrs Harling contacted The Dental Law Partnership. Analysis of her records revealed Mr Ricketts had consistently failed to spot and treat decay on a number of her teeth, the partnership said.

X-Ray images showing problems with Alex Harling's teeth. 
Picture: The Dental Law PartnershipX-Ray images showing problems with Alex Harling's teeth. 
Picture: The Dental Law Partnership
X-Ray images showing problems with Alex Harling's teeth. Picture: The Dental Law Partnership
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This, they believe, caused the development of the toothache and infections she suffered from. She now requires extensive corrective treatment, including crowns being fitted on three of her teeth.

Mrs Harling said: ‘It makes me so angry. I can’t believe I suffered so much for no reason.

The Dental Law Partnership took on the case in February 2016.

The case was settled in 2017.

Mr Ricketts said: ‘While I do not accept the accuracy of the facts conveyed by The Dental Law Partnership... I am pleased the matter has been bought to a satisfactory conclusion.’