Pensioner's £18k payout after years of dental pain

A pensioner who suffered from mouth pain for 10 years has won an £18,000 pay out from a Leyland dentist.
PAYOUT: Dentist Roger HughlockPAYOUT: Dentist Roger Hughlock
PAYOUT: Dentist Roger Hughlock

Between 2003 and 2013, 70-year-old James Clay endured painful fitting and re-fitting of bridges, unnecessary extraction of teeth, prolonged gum disease and bone loss.

After seeking a second 
opinion and instructing The Dental Law Partnership, he was awarded £18,000 in an out of court settlement from Dr Roger Hughlock of Lowerbank Dental Practice in Leyland.

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Dr Hughlock did not admit liability and yesterday declined to comment, other than saying: “There was no negligence and it has been settled.”

James Clays painful bridgeworkJames Clays painful bridgework
James Clays painful bridgework

Mr Clay, from Darwen, had gone to Dr Hughlock’s surgery after struggling to eat with his dentures.

Dr Hughlock told Mr Clay that he needed significant and expensive restorative dental work, including implants and bridges being fitted on his upper and lower jaw which would mean the extraction of two teeth.

After a series of painful problems and additional proceedures, the retired engineer saw a different dentist and was told the bridges and implants should never have been fitted in the first place because he was suffering with gum disease.

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He was also told he had suffered bone loss as a result of untreated gum disease and would likely need future extractions of implants, bone grafting, and implants.

An X Ray of James Clay's mouth. He has received £18,000 in an out of court settlement from Dr Roger HughlockAn X Ray of James Clay's mouth. He has received £18,000 in an out of court settlement from Dr Roger Hughlock
An X Ray of James Clay's mouth. He has received £18,000 in an out of court settlement from Dr Roger Hughlock

X-rays have since shown the implants were placed too close together and the others were already showing signs of failure when the bridge was cemented into place.

“The last decade of my life has been one of dental pain,” Mr Clay said.

“All I wanted when I retired was a peaceful life and a chance to spend time with my family.

“I haven’t been able to enjoy some very special occasions – I wasn’t able to go to my grandson’s christening because I was in so much pain.”

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