Man Awarded £25,000 After Failed Veneer Treatment Forces Repeated Tooth Gluing
A father who was compelled to repeatedly glue his own teeth back in following a botched veneer procedure has secured a £25,000 compensation payout. Jordan Ellis, a 32-year-old welder, invested over £3,000 for veneers on two teeth at the Dental Design Studio in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in April 2021. However, his dental ordeal began almost immediately after the treatment.
Immediate Problems and Escalating Issues
Mr Ellis reported that one of his veneers chipped the very next day after they were fitted, necessitating an urgent return to the dentist for repairs. In less than a month, by May 2021, his front tooth veneer fell out completely and had to be reinstalled by a dental professional. The problems persisted relentlessly, with the veneer continuing to drop out frequently.
Dentists eventually recommended switching to a crown, a more durable alternative, due to the ongoing failures. Mr Ellis explained, "Once I'd had the veneer treatment, the veneer kept falling out. I was told it would likely keep happening because of the shape of my tooth, so they advised me to have a crown instead."
Further Complications and Personal Distress
The transition to a crown brought its own set of challenges. During the procedure, most of the tooth was removed, leaving Mr Ellis essentially without a front tooth. When the replacement crown was fitted, he was dismayed by its appearance, describing it as looking "like sweetcorn" and insisting it be removed immediately. Despite his complaints to the dental practice, he still had to pay for the crown.
To this day, the crown detaches every three months, forcing Mr Ellis to reglue it himself using dental cement. He expressed significant emotional impact, stating, "The whole experience has really affected my day-to-day life. I'm much more self-conscious and I don't smile with my mouth open anymore. I also feel incredibly anxious when talking to people, especially when I see they look down at my mouth."
Legal Investigation and Settlement
Unhappy with the situation, Mr Ellis contacted dental negligence solicitors at the Dental Law Partnership in 2022. Their investigation uncovered severe consequences of the inadequate veneer treatment over several years. It was revealed that he will likely lose both front teeth in the future and require implants. Additionally, decay on a lower right-hand tooth was not diagnosed or treated despite his complaints of pain and eating difficulties, leading to an expected loss of that tooth as well.
In June last year, Mr Ellis received a £25,000 out-of-court settlement, although the practice owners did not admit liability. He reflected on the financial and personal toll, saying, "There's so much cost involved in getting veneers, that you expect your teeth to look better, not worse than when you started. I'm just so disappointed. I ended up recently going to another dentist to sort all the teeth that were messed up."
Mr Ellis now faces future private dental costs, including implants, to rectify the damage. The Dental Design Studio Lowestoft did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
