Dentist who caused unnecessary pain to patients is fined

Dentist Ewa Sliwowska failed to diagnose or treat tooth decay and gum disease in two patients who each went on to suffer significant and unnecessary pain after being treated by her at Beanhill Dental Practice in Perrydown, Milton Keynes,

Negligence claims were submitted on behalf of both patients by specialists Hudgell Solicitors, with the dentist’s insurers eventually agreeing to pay out compensation settlements.

The first patient had visited the practice complaining of pain. It was claimed Ms Sliwowska placed an inadequate filling in a decayed tooth, when root canal treatment would have been appropriate.

The dentist also faced accusations of failing to provide treatment for four decayed teeth, and failing to give any hygiene advice.

An independent expert, who was consulted by Hudgell Solicitors, was of the opinion the dentist had failed to devise a detailed treatment plan, which any reasonable dentist would have been expected to do.

Ms Sliwowska went on to perform root canal treatment on the patient which was also considered by the expert to lack reasonable skill and care, causing further pain.

Overall, it was claimed the poor treatment had caused the patient to suffer unnecessarily for 11 months, leaving them needing specialist root canal treatment. The patient received a settlement of £5,000.

The second patient had attended complaining of a root sticking out of his gum. The root was removed several days later, but at that stage the dentist did not perform an X-ray, which it was claimed would have showed tooth decay and gum disease.

Over the course of several more visits, it was alleged that Ms Sliwowska failed to diagnose widespread gum disease which was later found to be present, and did not provide any scaling, or hygiene instructions.

When the patient sought a second opinion at another dental practice, where radiographs were taken, gum disease was diagnosed and the patient was advised that two teeth would need to be removed, and a partial denture fitted.

Ashleigh Dance, personal injury expert for Hudgell Solicitors, alleged that the patient’s teeth could have been saved if decay had been diagnosed and treated earlier.

Instead, he was left with a great deal of inconvenience, discomfort, and expense, and received a settlement of £11,500.

The cases, which dated back to November 2011 and July 2013, were settled in March and November of 2015 respectively, and both patients could have been spared the suffering had the dentist carried out basic procedures,

Ms Dance said.“The dentist was found not to be taking radiographs as part of the initial examination when a new patient joined, which would have shown any signs of decay. This is a standard procedure when assessing new patients,” she said.

“The two patients suffered avoidable pain, and in one of the cases, the loss of two teeth. This is wholly unacceptable.

“We were able to demonstrate, through obtaining independent expert advice, that Ms Sliwowska’s care fell below the reasonable standard expected, and secure settlements for the two patients to compensate them for their pain, and the expense of needing corrective treatment.”