Carlisle dental patient left with chronic pain
A dental patient from Carlisle has been left with persistent facial pain following a procedure to fit a dental bridge.
Andrew Plant, from Scotland Road, Stanwix, has been suffering from chronic facial pain since he had the bridge fitted three years ago. He now gets through the day by taking strong painkillers, which ease the pain but don’t get rid of it.
Mr Plant, who is a self-employed piano teacher, has been told by dentists and pain experts that nothing can be done to stop the pain. Mr Plant had the bridge fitted to replace a number of missing teeth; he had previously worn dentures but found them uncomfortable and wanted to try a dental bridge instead. He had the bridge fitted and experienced severe pain as soon as the anaesthetic started to wear off; he had emergency dental treatment soon after to remove the root of the tooth; however, this did not stop the pain and Mr Plant claims that he has been living with pain every day since the operation.
After the procedure, Mr Plant saw other dentists and a pain expert, who all said that nothing more could be done to stop the pain; painkillers were prescribed but there only serve to ease the pain, rather than stop it altogether. Mr Plant filed a complaint against Mr Van Der Westhuizen, the dentist who fitted the bridge; however, it was not upheld by the General Dental Council.
Mr Plant has been told that the only option is facial surgery; however, medical staff have strongly advised him against having the operation as he is considered to be a high-risk patient. Mr Plant said there is no option but to live with the pain and try to get back to normal.
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