Joanne Ashley, a 55-year-old retail worker from Ascot, Berkshire, alleges that years of inadequate dental care at the clinic now called Eledent Smiles caused her to needlessly lose three teeth, leading to significant pain, mental health struggles, and financial costs. Ashley was a patient at the clinic, previously known as Frankel Dental Care, for over a decade. She claims that repeated visits to her dentists, Dr. Jonathan Frankel and Dr. Aman Babber, between 2008 and 2019 failed to address her underlying dental issues, resulting in prolonged discomfort and worsening oral health.
Ashley recalls multiple consultations with Dr. Frankel, seeking relief for persistent pain in the upper right side of her mouth. Despite recurrent infections and abscesses, she was often prescribed antibiotics without any long-term solution. In 2013, she transitioned her care to Dr. Babber, who performed a tooth extraction, temporary filling, and crown placement. However, she continued to experience pain and swelling in the crowned area, which interfered with her ability to sleep and eat normally. Frustrated with the lack of improvement, Ashley decided to consult a new dental practice in October 2021.
Reflecting on her experience, Ashley explained, “I ultimately lost three teeth due to errors at Eledent Smiles and needed implant treatment to fill the gaps. The cost was significant, forcing my husband to take a loan from his business to cover it. The infections caused pain so severe I couldn’t sleep or eat properly.”
Seeking accountability, Ashley approached the Dental Law Partnership in 2022. Their review of her dental records revealed missed opportunities for early intervention. According to the Dental Law Partnership, if Ashley’s conditions had been accurately diagnosed and treated earlier, she would have avoided years of pain, multiple infections, and costly procedures, including root canal treatment and tooth implants.
The ordeal, Ashley said, deeply impacted her quality of life, self-confidence, and mental health, especially as a parent caring for a young child at the time. “So much time and money were wasted on painful, expensive treatments that could have been avoided,” she shared. In June 2023, she received £16,250 in an out-of-court settlement, though the dentists involved did not admit liability.
Nicholas Hampson from the Dental Law Partnership expressed concern over Ashley’s case, stating, “The pain, distress, and inconvenience our client endured were completely avoidable. With adequate treatment, her dental issues could have been managed effectively.”
Ashley’s case sheds light on a broader trend in the UK. Recent research by the Dental Law Partnership indicates that one in five dental patients (20%) reported possible or probable negligence in the last three years. Findings also show that 21% of respondents had avoided visiting a dentist during the same period due to appointment unavailability or cost concerns. The primary forms of dental negligence cited included delayed treatments resulting in unnecessary pain or injury (10%), sub-standard dental procedures (6%), delayed gum disease treatment (5%), poorly executed orthodontic work (5%), and incorrect diagnoses (4%).
Chris Dean, a dentist and solicitor with the Dental Law Partnership, voiced concerns about the current state of dentistry in the UK: “Millions struggle to secure appointments, and those who do often face sub-par care. The rise in successful negligence claims since 2020 suggests that overworked dentists may be cutting corners, leaving patients to suffer. Many are unaware of the potential negligence they’ve experienced, prompting us to create a self-assessment tool to help individuals determine if they may have been impacted.”
In response, Eledent Smiles noted on its website that it provides a wide array of dental services, from fillings and root canals to cosmetic procedures like implants and braces. A spokesperson from the former Frankel Dental Care clinic told The Mirror: “The dental surgery does not agree with the facts presented by the Dental Law Partnership. However, due to patient confidentiality, we cannot discuss specific cases. We stand by our commitment to delivering the highest standards of care to all our patients.”
Related topics:
