‘It’s been a living nightmare’: York woman awarded £25K after tooth loss agony
A York woman who endured years of pain and lost most of the teeth at the front of her mouth has been awarded £25,000.
Audra Weston, a 55-year-old cleaner, said she endured years of tooth loss, insufficient fillings and recurrent mouth infections.
Ms Weston was a patient with Dr Jonathan McCarthy at Clifton Dental Practice in York between 2010 and 2018. She issued a negligence claim against him, via legal firm the Dental Law Partnership.
Dr McCarthy did not admit liability. He challenges the accuracy of her account of what happened, but said he couldn’t say much more due to patient confidentiality.
She said she visited Dr McCarthy complaining of discomfort in her mouth several times.
According to the Dental Law Partnership: “Emergency treatment, including extractions and root canals, and medication were prescribed on a number of occasions.
“By 2018, Ms Weston was left with almost no teeth in the front of her mouth on her top or bottom jaw. Despite having dentures installed, she often experienced mouth infections which meant it was too painful for the denture to remain in her mouth.”
Ms Weston said: “It got to a point where I was basically left with no teeth – I couldn’t keep the denture in so I was left with my gums.
“I couldn’t eat anything as my gums were so painful it made it impossible to chew and I felt so self-conscious of my mouth that I was scared to leave the house.
“My daughter got married during this time and I had to leave early and couldn’t be in any of the photos because I was so anxious about my appearance.”
The Dental Law Partnership alleged that Dr McCarthy failed to appropriately treat issues early enough.
They claimed the remnants of roots from extractions had caused recurrent infections.
Due to the lack of NHS dentists and the pandemic, Ms Weston “has only recently accessed treatment for new dentures that fit correctly in her mouth without pain,” they said.
That means she has had to “suffer for the last four years without functioning teeth”.
“It really has been a living nightmare,” Ms Weston said.
“My gums are permanently misshapen and my mouth is warped. Although I am finally getting new dentures, I will never get the last few years of constant distress back.”
The Dental Law Partnership took on Ms Weston’s case in 2019. The case was settled in 2022 when Ms Weston was paid £25,000 in an out of court settlement.
Dr McCarthy did not admit liability.
‘Patient confidentiality’
Dr Jonathan McCarthy of Clifton Dental Practice said:
“While I do not accept the accuracy of the facts conveyed by The Dental Law Partnership, I am limited in what I can say because of patient confidentiality.
“I am pleased the matter has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion and that all parties can now move on.”