A 65-year-old woman has shared her harrowing experience of losing nearly all her teeth due to undiagnosed gum disease spanning almost two decades. Joy Shaw, who was treated at a now-closed dental practice in Sheffield, endured years of pain, tooth loss, and emotional trauma before receiving dentures to replace the 21 teeth she lost.
A Two-Decade Struggle
Joy was a patient at mydentist in Blyde Road, Fir Vale, Sheffield, from 2000 to 2020. During this time, she suffered from bleeding gums, severe pain, infections, and tooth decay. Despite her symptoms, she was not formally diagnosed with gum disease until May 2019, nearly 19 years after it was first suspected.
Instead of receiving treatment tailored to combat the progressive condition, Joy’s dental care was limited to routine scaling and polishing, which was inadequate for her needs.
Her condition worsened, and by 2013, she had already lost five teeth. Seeking relief, she traveled over 40 miles to Manchester for dental implants. However, the implants failed and began falling out, causing excruciating pain. Joy later discovered that the risks associated with her gum disease had not been explained by the dentist performing the implant procedure.
Painful Consequences
“For years, I endured tooth pain, bleeding gums, tenderness, and infections,” Joy recalled. “My teeth kept breaking, and they failed to diagnose and treat decay in two of them. The pain and trauma of losing so many teeth made eating unbearable. Every bite hurt, and I couldn’t eat properly. It was utterly devastating.”
Eventually, Joy lost all but six of her teeth, leaving her with a full denture for her upper jaw and a partial denture for her lower jaw. She added:
“I never imagined I’d need dentures at this stage of my life. The embarrassment and lack of confidence from losing my teeth were overwhelming. I stopped smiling, stopped going out, and felt completely broken. Now, I’m trying to relearn how to smile.”
Legal Action and Settlement
Joy sought legal recourse for what she described as decades of inadequate dental care. An investigation by her solicitors revealed that, with proper treatment, 21 of her teeth could have been saved, sparing her years of suffering. In July, Joy received £35,000 in an out-of-court settlement.
Justine Jones of the Dental Law Partnership, who represented Joy, commented:
“The distress and pain our client endured were entirely preventable. If the dentists involved had provided appropriate care, her ordeal could have been avoided.”
While mydentist and the dentist who performed the implant procedure did not admit liability, a spokesperson for mydentist issued an apology:
“We deeply regret Ms. Shaw’s experience at our Blyde Road practice, which has since closed. Ensuring the highest quality dental care for our patients is our top priority, and we are sorry that, on this occasion, we fell short.”
A Hard Lesson
Joy’s story highlights the devastating impact of untreated gum disease and the importance of proper dental care. Now adjusting to life with dentures, Joy is determined to rebuild her confidence and smile again after years of pain and emotional distress.
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