A woman who experienced years of tooth loss, recurrent mouth infections and inadequate fillings after visiting her dentist, has been paid £25,000 in an out-of-court settlement.

Audra Weston had been a long-term patient with Dr Jonathan McCarthy at Clifton Dental Practice in York between 2010 and 2018.

During this period, Ms Weston visited Dr McCarthy complaining of discomfort in her mouth several times.

Emergency treatment, including extractions and root canals, and medication were prescribed on a number of occasions but, by 2018, Ms Weston was left with almost no teeth in the front of her mouth on her top or bottom jaw.

The Northern Echo: Audra was sadly left with hardly any teeth and has suffered 'infection after infection'Audra was sadly left with hardly any teeth and has suffered 'infection after infection' (Image: Goodness PR)

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Despite having dentures installed, she often experienced mouth infections which meant it was too painful for the denture to remain in her mouth.

“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. I didn’t like going out because it was so embarrassing.

“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,” Ms Weston recalled.

“I was on a constant stream of antibiotics as I experienced infection after infection. It was miserable.”

The Northern Echo: Audra has been so self-conscious due to her mouth and teeth that she didn't feel she could leave her house Audra has been so self-conscious due to her mouth and teeth that she didn't feel she could leave her house (Image: Dental Law Practice)

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At her wits end with the disruption this was causing to her life, Ms Weston contacted the Dental Law Partnership in 2019.

Further analysis revealed a catalogue of errors from Dr McCarthy who had failed to acknowledge and appropriately treat issues early enough, which led to the traumatic experiences that followed.

Further inspection also revealed the remnants of roots from Dr McCarthy’s extractions, which had never been spotted and which had been the cause of recurrent infections.

As a result of the pandemic and a lack of NHS dentists taking on new patients, it was only this year that Ms Weston was able to receive treatment for new dentures that fit correctly in her mouth without pain, meaning she has had to suffer for the last four years without functioning teeth.

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“It really has been a living nightmare. I went through so many treatments with Dr McCarthy and still ended up with no teeth and have essentially suffered four years of agony before it could be resolved,” 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.”

Jane Littlewood of the Dental Law Partnership commented: “The distress and pain our client has experienced was completely unnecessary. If the dentist involved had provided the correct preventative treatment at earlier signs of decay, her problems could have been avoided.”

The Dental Law Partnership took on Ms Weston’s case in 2019. The case was successfully settled in 2022 when Ms Weston was paid £25,000 in an out of court settlement. The dentist involved did not admit liability.

Dr Jonathan McCarthy 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 bought (sic) to a satisfactory conclusion and that all parties can now move on.”

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