A WOMAN says she’s been left permanently scarred after a string of “shambolic” dentist appointments.
Leanna Painter suffered extreme facial swelling, severe pain, recurrent infections and lost two teeth thanks to the alleged failures by her practice over two years.
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At the height of her problems, her face became so puffed up she was afraid to leave the house, and she was so self-conscious she avoided smiling at all costs.
Years later, the 40-year-old is still haunted by the “nasty taste of infected pus” in her mouth.
Leanna claims her ordeal could have been avoided if her dentists had diagnosed and treated her tooth decay sooner.
The chef, from Lancing, West Sussex, said: “Since the age of 19 when I first had a tooth knocked out, I’ve been used to feeling somewhat self-conscious, but this entire ordeal has only made that worse.
READ MORE ON DENTAL DISASTERS
“It’s so frustrating as I’ve always had good dental hygiene, and even now I still brush them three times a day.
“It’s been a shambles – from the rude dismissive attitudes of the surgery, to paying extra for a second opinion.
“Even now, there is still work to do on my teeth with several implants needed.”
Leanna, who has been left with hefty dental costs totalling at least £17,500 to rectify her once-healthy teeth, was a patient at her clinic in East Sussex between 2017 and 2019.
She had one tooth extracted at a different practice after suffering “significant pain”.
However, this didn’t alleviate the issues, and the “problematic root and gum pain” persisted.
In 2017, Leanna visited a new dentist, and everything continued to go wrong.
“My gum pain was so severe, I requested sedation when getting additional fillings,” she said.
“They then diagnosed me with acute gum disease in November 2017 – sending me home with antibiotics and mouthwash to help. But things continued to get worse.
“In 2018, I was having issues with two further teeth in my lower-right jaw.
“They placed a filling in one of them, which fell out. They then re-filled it, but it was lost yet again.
“This tooth got considerably worse over the years with infections, and I eventually had to get it extracted in 2021 at the hospital.
“They also placed a filling in the second tooth but warned that I could potentially lose that one too.”
The whole ordeal has definitely had a lasting impact; the state they left my teeth in was just horrendous
Leanna Painter
After repeated “awful” infections, Leanna had that tooth removed in 2021 at a different clinic.
“I was in so much pain,” she said. “My face became swollen, and I had a nasty taste in my mouth from infected pus.
“This lasted for months, it was awful.
“After all these negative experiences, my trust in my dentist’s advice was so damaged, I had no choice but to visit a new London-based practice.
“I’ve already had two dental implants but I will need five more, and they cost around £2,500 on average.
“The whole ordeal has definitely had a lasting impact; the state they left my teeth in was just horrendous.
“I was really self-conscious when smiling and always used my hand to cover my mouth.
“Now I’ve had two implants at the front, it has helped and I sometimes get compliments, but the whole experience was awful.”
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Analysis by the Dental Law Partnership (DLP) alleged Leanna’s dentists failed to diagnose and treat decay in two teeth.
The firm claims her facial swelling, infections, severe pain and tooth loss could have been avoided had her condition been managed correctly.
Tim Armitage, from DLP, said: “The distress and pain our client has experienced was completely unnecessary.
“If the dentists at the practice involved had provided more satisfactory treatment, her problems could have been avoided.”
The case was settled in January 2025, when Leanna was awarded £8,500 in compensation from her former dental practice.
It did not admit liability.
Other huge dental disasters
- Havanna Palmer, 22, won £30,000 after her dentist ignored clear signs of tooth decay, leaving her with dreadful breath and needing invasive treatment for the rest of her life.
- Lucy Bodycote, 44, was awarded £15,000 after the anaesthetic failed as her dentist pulled out one of her teeth.
- Katie Granger, 38, was left with no feeling in half her lip or chin after a routine trip to the dentist. She received £45,000 in compensation.
- Lauren Field, 21, received £10,000 after a series of dental blunders left her with teeth like a shark.
- Anastasia Zimina, 25, got £70,000 in compensation after having 22 healthy teeth removed for seemingly no reason.
- Toby Parker, 18, scooped £10,000 after a dentist left him unable to eat ice cream.
- Clare Shorrock, 38, was left permanently disfigured by a dentist who accidentally filled her mouth with bleach. She was awarded £14,500 in compensation.
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