£13k payout for Black Country dental patient left with permanent scarring

Sam Smith, aged 22, said he first visited his dentist Dr Mandeep Singh Mavi at Crankhall Lane Dental Practice in 2008, complaining of aching in his lower left six tooth.

He says he was given a large filling and antibiotics. A year later in 2009, then aged 15, Mr Smith claims he returned to be given a further course of antibiotics and was offered removal of the tooth – which he didn't feel happy about.

The trainee accountant alleges Dr Mavi did not tell him that unless he was given further dental treatment the infection would not go away but the only solution would have been to either have root canal treatment or extract the tooth.

A year later he went to a GP and was diagnosed with a lesion which was weeping with discharge and pus.

After he visited a new dentist X-rays showed a large area of decay at the root of the tooth and he was referred to a skin clinic – with a visible swollen lump on the lower left side of his face.

He was referred to a specialist Maxillo-facial clinic regarding the facial swelling and scarring where they told him it was a direct result of 'severe dental infection' that would need to be resolved before they could treat the facial lesion.

Mr Smith's tooth was eventually removed.

Mr Smith said: "I was in agony, I had so much pain, and my face was swelling up as well.

"I was a teenager and I was at a very sensitive age, I really felt like everyone was looking at me and this hideous lump on my face.

"I didn't want to go out or attend school or anything and I had no confidence in myself.

An out of court settlement of £13,000 was agreed. However, Dr Mavi did not admit to liability.

Dr Mavi said in a statement: "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 to a satisfactory conclusion and that all parties can now move on."

Jennie Hales, of Dental Law Partnership, said: "This should not happen to anyone, especially at the hands of a trusted professional."