- Lynne Haines claimed to have suffered from gum disease for more than a decade
A HR consultant whose smile was “ruined” by years of poor dental treatment has won a £40,000 award after a four-year legal battle.
Lynne Haines, 56, claimed she suffered for more than a decade after suffering severe gum disease that was never diagnosed.
The dental patient eventually contacted the Dental Law Partnership in 2020, who took up her claim that her gums should have been treated as far back as 2001.
The case was settled against Dr John Graham for treatment he gave while working at Croft Dental Practice in Aberdare, Wales between 2001 and 2014. Dr Graham, who retired in 2014, has pleaded not guilty.
Ms Haines, from Penarth, South Wales, claimed that despite regular check-ups, Dr Graham never gave any advice or indication that there was anything seriously wrong with her teeth.
Lynne Haines, 56, claimed she suffered for more than a decade after suffering severe gum disease that was never diagnosed. She said she was left with gaps in her teeth (pictured)
Pictured here is Mrs. Haines on the day the gap in her teeth was finally fixed. He has won £40,000 after a four-year legal battle
She claimed periodontal disease was ignored for more than a decade, resulting in huge gaps in her mouth and the loss of several teeth.
It also had a significant impact on her psychology, leaving her with “deep mental scars”.
Mrs Haynes said: “I was so angry that I had put my full trust in the dentist who had ruined my smile, me and my confidence.
“My job requires a lot of face-to-face meetings, and I hated doing video calls with my camera on throughout the pandemic.”
Four years after she had last seen Dr. Graham, she was referred to specialists who discovered she had severe periodontal disease and referred her for treatment to treat extreme bone loss.
Ms Haines said: “I had a huge gap in my front teeth and a lot of teeth were wobbly.
“The treatment was painful and invasive and my mouth was constantly sensitive.
Ms Haines is pictured before suffering from gum disease. She said the lack of treatment “ruined” her smile
“I felt so self-conscious that I never smiled and worried all the time. It was a horrible experience and it really affected me every day.’
Ms Haines added: “The disease is under control for now but I will never get my bone density back and I have to be extremely careful about looking after my gums and keeping up with my appointments.
“I have had some composite bonding done now which has fixed the appearance of my upper teeth, but I know this is not a permanent solution and will need to be replaced in a few years.
“While I’m happy with how I look at the moment, the whole experience has left a deep mental scar.”
