12 November 2023 , 19:26
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A lecturer who was told to ‘live with’ his crippling tooth pain by dentists after they failed to spot his significant tooth decay says the experience was so traumatic he ‘wouldn’t wish it on his worst enemy’.
Dr Mustafa Alchelabi noticed one of his upper-right teeth had become increasingly sensitive, prompting him to book an appointment at his surgery in Greater Manchester in 2018. Mustafa was seen by a different dentist – not the one he had been treated by for more than two decades – who told him he needed root canal treatment. However, the dentist wanted to get a second opinion and sought advice from the dentist Mustafa usually went to see.
The 51-year-old’s normal dentist said he just needed another filling and Mustafa went ahead with this treatment. But once the filling was complete, Mustafa’s tooth was even more sensitive and he was unable to eat or drink properly.
Dentists failed to spot the tooth decay (Dr Mustafa Alchelabi/MEN Media)He remained in agony and the antibiotics weren’t relieving his pain at all. Manchester Evening News reports he returned to the practice in January 2019 for an X-ray and the results showed he had significant tooth decay that dentists failed to spot. He had root canal treatment a week later and another filling placed. But, six months on, his tooth was still sensitive – with dentists telling him there was nothing more they could do.
Mustafa explained: "My dentist said there was nothing further he could do and that I was just going to have to live with the pain, have the tooth extracted, or see a specialist… I lived in pain for months and months which stopped me doing my normal activities like lecturing, and therefore impacted my job and daily life. My mood got really low and this impacted everyone around me. I wouldn’t wish the experience on my worst enemy.”
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Alongside the Dental Law Partnership in 2020, an analysis of dental records revealed that if the dentist had investigated adequately and intervened in a timely fashion, Mustafa would not have suffered repeat canal treatment and the future loss of his tooth. They took on his case before it was settled in May 2023 when the dentist paid £8,000 in an out of court settlement. The dentist involved did not admit liability.