A teenager has been awarded £11,000 after his braces, which were fitted for three-and-a-half years to improve his smile left his teeth ‘sticking out’.
Kai Orley, 18, from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham said he experienced a ‘traumatic nightmare’ ever since his first dentist appointment at the age of 10.
Dr Andrew Zaranko for orthodontic treatment at Belasis Dental Practice, in Billingham, was treating the student, but it seemed that his treatment was doing more damage than good.
Kai said:
“My front four teeth gradually began to stick out, which had never been an issue before.
“It was an extremely frustrating and traumatic experience that affected my mental health and my diet a lot throughout secondary school.
“The retainers made me miserable as they were so painful and uncomfortable.
“I constantly felt anxious about my teeth and I found it really hard to eat lunch at school for a time as I was in so much discomfort.”
Kai explained he first visited Dr Zaranko in Year 6 of primary school aged 10.
“Tooth extractions were discussed, but Dr Zaranko thought I could proceed without them, and we started the orthodontic work properly in April 2017 when I was 11, and then in January 2018 I had a fixed brace installed,” he said.
Kai said he attended monthly appointments to have coils and elastics fitted, but it “didn’t seem like my teeth got any better at all.
“My front four teeth gradually began to stick out, which had never been an issue before.
“Mum and I raised concerns about the lack of improvement but were constantly told by Dr Zaranko that it would get better – we just needed more time”.
In November 2020, Kai’s mum got in touch with another dentist for a second opinion.
Kai said:
“At the new practice, we were told that I needed two teeth extracted – which is what Dr Zaranko had said we could proceed without doing.
“I had the teeth extracted and a new set of braces fitted by the new dentist, and my teeth began to improve.
“I finally had my braces taken off in April 2022, aged 16, more than five years after my initial treatment started.”
Kai said he has been left “horrified” that other patients could still receive treatment from this dentist.
A Dental Negligence lawyer took on the case and Kai received £11,000 out-of-court settlement, but the dentist did not accept liability.
Dental negligence – What it is?
Dental negligence is when you have placed trust in a dental health professional, but mistakes and delays have caused the patient avoidable harm.
Dental negligence can cause significant pain and can even affect our mental well-being if the mistakes have affected our appearance or confidence.
Types of dental negligence
Some common examples of dental negligence can include:
- Incorrect and delayed diagnosis of teeth health and even oral cancer
- Nerve injury
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Periodontal Disease Misdiagnosis
- Mistakes in treatment leading to the loss of a tooth or multiple teeth
- Surgical Errors in extraction and root canal treatment
Dental Negligence – what can I claim for?
If you have suffered due to Dental Negligence then you may be able to claim for the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Any loss of earnings as a result of the dental treatment
- Further treatment that may be required including cosmetic treatment
- Psychiatric damage
How to make a Dental Negligence claim?
If you believe or feel you have a claim, contact us Oakwood Solicitors for a free initial consultation regarding your options.
Further reading
Dental negligence claims – Oakwood Solicitors
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.
Carol Cook joined Oakwood Solicitors in May 2017 to lead the Medical Negligence Department.
Carol handles a wide range of clinical, cosmetic and dental negligence claims and has years of experi…
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