Home > Publications > Selected Cases > Selected Investigations Completed December 2002March 2003 > Case no. E.1947/01-02
Complaint against a General Dental Practitioner in the Medway Primary Care Trust area
Summary of Case
Mrs B had been a patient at her dental practice for more than 12 years. Mr D took over the practice and, from September 1997 until October 1999, Mrs B saw him seven times for regular appointments and, by Mr D's account, received treatment from him on a number of occasions for periodontal disease (gum disease). After her last appointment with Mr D, Mrs B went to a private dentist, who informed her that she had advanced periodontal disease. The private dentist referred her for treatment to a periodontics specialist. Mrs B complained to the Ombudsman that Mr D had failed to diagnose her gum condition, or to inform her about its severity, and had not arranged for her to have appropriate treatment. She also complained that Mr D had not adequately recorded the severity of the problem.
Findings
The Ombudsman took clinical advice from two professional assessors, both practising dentists. She found that there was little evidence in Mrs B’s dental records that Mr D had carried out a periodontal assessment, either when he saw Mrs B initially or later. Although contemporaneous X-rays were not available, it was reasonable to assume that, because her periodontal disease would have been developing over a period of time, Mrs B’s condition needed substantial treatment or a referral to a specialist at the time, neither of which was provided. In addition, Mr D should have explained more fully to Mrs B that she was suffering from periodontal disease and the extent of that disease. The Ombudsman concluded that he had not done so, and upheld this part of the complaint.
The Ombudsman’s assessors commented that the records maintained by Mr D were brief and below the standard expected, making it difficult to establish to what extent Mrs B had been informed about her gum condition. However, the Ombudsman learned that Mr D had undergone special review by his local health authority and that his record-keeping had since improved. Mr D also explained that, since the events complained about, he had improved his assessment and treatment of periodontal disease. The Ombudsman suggested that Mr D's record-keeping should continue to be audited, in order to ensure that the changes he had put in place were maintained. The Ombudsman upheld the complaint about Mr D's record-keeping.
Remedy
Mr D apologised, accepted the Ombudsman’s recommendations and agreed to compensate Mrs B
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