Clifford Shaw’s untreated dental decay lower left molar. (Image: Dental Law Partnership / SWNS)
A postie who lost his front teeth after bungling dentists missed his gum disease has won a £12,000 payout.
Clifford Shaw, 65, was a patient at two mydentist branches in his hometown of Barnoldswick, Burnley, Lancs., from 2007.
He has lost several teeth, including his two front teeth, and wears dentures after dentists failed to treat his gum disease and missed signs of decay.
The postie, who finds it painful to eat, said: “For many years I had multiple dentists at the practice, as practitioners kept leaving year after year.
“During these years I was losing a lot of teeth, but no reason was given.
“It wasn’t picked up by the dentists as I kept having new people checking my teeth.
“The dentists would just fill my teeth, and then when that didn’t work to ease the pain, they’d pull them out.
“There were gaps in my teeth even right at the front of my mouth.
“This made me look like a haggard old man, and it was also difficult to eat with so many holes in my mouth where food would get trapped.”
Don’t miss…
Mr Clifford Shaw, a 65-year-old Royal Mail postman awarded £11,800 (Image: Dental Law Partnership / SWNS)
Mr Shaw contacted solicitors in 2022 after being fed-up at being in almost constant pain.
Analysis of his records by the Dental Law Partnership found untreated gum disease and undiagnosed decay on multiple teeth.
He added: “I now have dentures, including my two front teeth. It makes me feel dead old. It’s embarrassing, and costly.
“I still struggle to eat and drink with dentures on as when I chew they press on my nerves.
“I’m still not used to wearing them but I wouldn’t go without them as I’m so self-conscious being near people with gaps in my teeth.
“I don’t smile as much any more and hold my hand over my mouth when speaking if I don’t have them on.”
Mr Shaw is now going through restorative treatment to try to save his remaining teeth.
He was paid £11,800 in an out of court settlement in June this year by his former dentists who did not admit liability.
The Dental Law Partnership’s Tim Armitage said: “The distress and pain our client has experienced was completely unnecessary.
“If the treating dentists involved had provided more satisfactory treatment, his problems could have been avoided.”
A spokesperson for mydentist said: “We would like to apologise for the experience Mr Shaw has had.
“Ensuring patients receive the highest quality dental care is our first priority and we’re disappointed that on this rare occasion it fell below our expectations.”