West End performer Jennifer Hepburn has been left 'terrified' of dentists after a dental extraction went wrong, resulting in the removal of a healthy tooth instead of the broken one. She received £11,000 in an out-of-court settlement from her former dentist, who denied liability, according to the Dental Law Partnership.
Wrong tooth removed during surgery
Miss Hepburn visited a dentist in Rotherhithe to have a broken tooth on the lower left side of her mouth surgically removed. After the painful extraction, she returned to her car and noticed in the mirror that the wrong tooth had been taken out, while the broken tooth remained intact.
At a review appointment, it was confirmed that the incorrect tooth had been extracted. For four to six weeks following the procedure, she experienced constant pain from the untreated broken tooth, forcing her to cancel rehearsals for her West End shows and causing her to feel increasingly self-conscious about her appearance.
Legal action and settlement
She contacted the Dental Law Partnership, which took on her case against the dentist. In April, the case was settled out of court, and she was awarded £11,000. The dentist denied liability.
“I am now terrified of going to the dentist,” Miss Hepburn said. When she contacted a new dentist to remove the actual broken tooth, she said it caused her to “shake uncontrollably due to fear and distress.”
Impact on performer's career and wellbeing
The incident not only caused physical pain but also disrupted her professional life as a West End performer. The constant pain from the broken tooth led to cancelled rehearsals, affecting her work.
Rebecca McVety of the Dental Law Partnership commented: “The distress and pain our client has experienced was completely unnecessary. If the dentist involved had provided more satisfactory treatment, her problems could have been avoided.”
The dental surgery was contacted for comment but did not respond.
