A ROSS-On-WYE Woman has been awarded £12,500 after multiple dental errors went undiagnosed which led to tooth loss.

Rachel Bushell, 60, suffered extensive dental issues as a result of poor treatment which left decay to progress and further issues to arise.

Ms Bushell, a learning support assistant, was awarded £12,500 by two former dentists after she had enlisted the help of specialist dental negligence solicitors the Dental Law Partnership.

The payment was awarded after numerous dental errors in the provision of crowns and root canals, and issues such as decay that had gone undiagnosed came to light, requiring months of remedial treatment and leading to tooth loss.

Ms Bushell was a long-term patient at Symonds Yat Dental Care since 2005. She was treated by Dr Manjit Rai between October 2019 and March 2021, and was then treated by Dr Ben Bushell between May 2021 and August 2022.

“I had always made an effort to attend regular dental appointments and to look after my teeth,” Ms Bushell explained.

“Between 2019 and 2022, I was treated for a number of issues with crowns, fillings, and broken teeth, and I experienced sensitivity and pain on a number of occasions.”

“In August 2022, I decided to visit a new practice as I was worried the most recent crown and filling I’d had at Symonds Yat Dental Surgery weren’t good enough.

“I was absolutely horrified when I had my first appointment at the new practice to be diagnosed with a whole selection of further dental issues in many teeth that had never been diagnosed before, which required a few months of restorative work.”

Concerned with the experiences she had gone through, Ms Bushell contacted the Dental Law Partnership in August 2022. Analysis of her records revealed numerous errors by Dr Manjit Rai and Dr Ben Bushell in the provision of crowns, and diagnosis of decay and showed that the issues Ms Bushell experienced could have been avoided.

Ms Bushell added: “I was horrified when all of these issues came to light. I had worried for a while that the quality of treatment I had received wasn’t good enough, as it always felt so rushed.

“As part of the remedial work I’ve had to have a tooth removed for the first time since childhood, and I am likely to lose two further teeth, which felt like I’ve started a real downward spiral with my dental health that knocked my confidence.”

Jennifer Paine of the Dental Law Partnership commented: “The significant distress, pain and inconvenience our client has experienced was completely unnecessary. If the dentists involved had provided more satisfactory treatment, her problems could have been avoided.”

The case was successfully settled in July 2024 when Ms Bushell was paid £12,500 in an out of court settlement. The dentists involved did not admit liability.